Note: This was published earlier today on Union Review. You are encouraged to come visit the site, comment there or here -- and have all permissions needed to cross-post this piece to your own sites or diaries. - Richard
Worker abuse has become so prevalent in our society that even the most anti-union/anti-worker NLRB has voted and ruled against companies participating in the heinous act of disrupting organizing drives; the most recent (that I know of) was late last week in Los Angeles, California.
The AP article about the situation I am writing of read, "A judge for the National Labor Relations Board has found the Hilton Los Angeles Airport illegally retaliated against workers organizing a union in 2006, the latest development in a long running labor dispute at one of the city's biggest hotels."
The 43-page ruling included an order to the hotel to pay more than $36,000 in back wages. The AP reported that the ruling "found that hotel management pushed and threatened employees, interrogated them about union activities, and denied them access to the hotel while wearing union T-shirts."
The Employee Free Choice Act is a hot topic among union workers and organizers in the United States. Folks simply know that the passage of this bill would level the playing field for how union organizing is done in the U.S.
The people (in and out of labor) opposed to the Employee Free Choice Act claim, among other things: What we have now works, leave it alone. At UnionReview, when I hear the argument(s) against EFCA, I scratch my head and wonder if people are reading the same news I am; if they aren't organizing and seeing stuff first hand.
On Daily Kos, not terribly long ago, someone commented on one of my pro-EFCA posts saying he/she could not fathom the idea that employer intimidation takes place at organizing campaigns. (For the record: these were not the person's exact words; and I am having a difficult time searching Kos comments to get the URL to where the comment was made).
While conversation ensues for and against the Employee Free Choice Act, more and more workers are fired, intimidated, threatened and bullied once they pipe up to better their working life for themselves and their families.
This worker abuse has become so prevalent in our society that even the most anti-union/anti-worker NLRB has voted and ruled against companies participating in the heinous act of disrupting organizing drives; the most recent (that I know of) was late last week in Los Angeles, California.
The AP article about the situation I am writing of read, "A judge for the National Labor Relations Board has found the Hilton Los Angeles Airport illegally retaliated against workers organizing a union in 2006, the latest development in a long running labor dispute at one of the city's biggest hotels."
The 43-page ruling included an order to the hotel to pay more than $36,000 in back wages. The AP reported that the ruling "found that hotel management pushed and threatened employees, interrogated them about union activities, and denied them access to the hotel while wearing union T-shirts."
The same day the ruling was passed down (Friday of last week) the Hilton issued a statement that the ruling is wrong and is considering an appeal to the NLRB.
Though I am not a member of UNITE Local 11, the union which the Hilton workers want to organize with, if I were in LA I'd seriously walk into this joint with full union gear on; then sit in the most outwardly present lounge or cafe and order a cup of coffee or beer or whatever. I'd be sure to be seen. Would they ask me to leave or go to the men's room and change out of my clothing? This blog posting is starting to feel like a Social Studies report about the plight of African-Americans in 1960 Mobile, Alabama -- I cannot fathom this is 2008... But that's not entirely true, I can believe this is occurring late in 2008 because I see and live this kind of worker abuse every day of the week -- it is getting others on point that remains the tricky part; alas, there is UnionReview.com and countless other websites where this kind of news gets shared and discussed.
I can also believe this is coming down on the LAX Hilton because it is not brand new news; issues at this particular shop have sprinkled through the ranks and into some mainstream media outlets for almost 10 years now -- and really, this is all about two things: One is the issues at hand, of course, but the other issue - the more quiet --left for the end of the story, if it makes the story, is: The Employee Free Choice Act.
EFCA is so hotly disputed, especially close to the election, that right wing right-to-work states and groups are spending a hot penny or two (read as much more than $36K) for advertisements depicting union thugs as the reason people should not be in favor of the Act.
The UNITE Local 11 organizing director, Kurt Peterson, is quoted in the article with a statement that truly sounds like one voice in a chorus of labor leaders, organizers and rank-and-file workers: We need card count/card check elections; period. It should be known now that four other Hilton LA locations have had card check elections; and you've probably guessed correctly, it works.
Traditional union elections are almost always subject to the employer's wrath. People are fired, bullied, interrogated, and in one case I worked on earlier this year, forced to work insane hours to separate the pro-union employees from the fence sitters. Without a vein of communicating and mobilizing one and another, surely the employer wins (this is the oldest trick in the book I am told).
The last paragraph of the AP story moving this news into the mainstream media is a quote from the hotel, "The LAX Hilton will continue to stand with our employees in defense of their right to choose," the hotel said. "We are ready, willing and waiting to have an election."
So this then begs the question, what the hell happened in 2006 -- or is the new found willingness valued at $36,000 – along with the few other fines slapped in the face of the hotel’s management?
Before you can answer the hypothetical question; be duly informed that labor is standing strongly behind Senator Obama to be the next President of the United States because, among other labor-friendly issues the Senator is committed to; he is clearly willing, able, and ready to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
Pit Obama's stance on Labor against his running mate McCain. All one needs to do is recall the third and final televised debate when Obama talked why he was against the Colombian Free Trade Agreement; stating the fact that there are union leaders killed regularly there -- and until that categorically ends, he will not endorse this particular FTA. As he was making the statement, the screen split ... and McCain is seen rolling his arrogant out of touch grandpa creepy eyes. I think it is a fair guess to say I know where McCain and Palin stay if they land at LAX.
As this rant comes to the close, all I can say is congratulations to these workers for fighting the right fight and coming out victorious. They are applauded for not sitting idle when their right as American workers is compromised. In this country, clearly a worker has the right to organize, these workers are proving that this is no easy task; and are fighting back when the task at hand is so grossly abused by the employer.