I must preamble this article with the disclaimer that I am currently an appointed public official on the Berkeley Commission on Labor here in the Bay Area. I have always had an interest in the mission of unions as stalwart defenders of workers' individual and collective rights. The work of the Commission is centered in developing reports and observing current labor disputes and resolutions.
It is with great interest that I follow the anti-union efforts taking place in Michigan and Wisconsin. The reality is that we do not need to go that far to see such efforts take place. In the last year or so the same has been seen right here in Alameda County, and more specifically, in the city of Berkeley.
Both the labor disputes at the Berkeley Bowl and at the KPFA Progressive radio station bring to the forefront that even in a city as Progressive as Berkeley, workers rights can be challenged as well as their ability to collectively bargain in negotiating wages, benefits, conflict resolution and mediation within their working environment. It comes as a great surprise then that the pattern of negotiations and mediation did not take the expected path in a city like Berkeley but that in both instances it has come with an acrimonious and contentious debate.
The Berkeley Bowl negotiations took a swing for the Machiavellian when alleged underhanded tactics were used by management to bully union members to vote to not have an union as a way of representation. The NLRB found management had engaged in such highly "alleged objectionable conduct" that the June election must be nullified. Through the settlement the company is now required to post a notice that it would not punish workers for participating in union activities. The NLRB demanded that the company create an atmosphere appropriate for a new election.
The Berkeley Bowl is also now required to post notices stipulating that the company will not assign employees to "onerous" work or isolate them from co-workers because of their support for Local 5 or any other union, "not to create the impression of spying by monitoring union activity during non-working time, in non-work areas," not to limit union representatives (UFCW) access to back areas of the store, or tell workers they can't hand out union fliers or speak to co-workers about the union.
In the labor dispute at KPFA, the parent company( Pacifica) claimed budgetary constraints in eliminating positions and terminating employment during negotiations.The contention also centers on the termination of the morning talk host show who has since been restored as a labor complaint about the nature of the termination and union contract violation looked like a loss to management.
In another twist of events, KPFA news anchor John Hamilton, who had just returned from reporting on the labor protests in Wisconsin, was layed off on Monday by KPFA’s interim program director Carrie Core. Hamilton was told his last work day would be March 30. The decision came directly from Pacifica executive director Arlene Engelhardt. It comes as a surprise to the listeners. Amy Hart , a long time Berkeley resident and KPFA lover said" it makes no sense to let go of the two shows that made the bread and butter for the station with followers. There seems to be more of an agenda here".
Hamilton has been a prominent union activist at KPFA, speaking out against the actions of Pacifica management at meetings of KPFA’s local station board, the Commission on Labor and the Berkeley City Council. Hamilton's advocacy helped prompt the Berkeley City Council on February 8th to unanimously approved a resolution urging all parties in the Pacifica-KPFA conflict to negotiate or mediate in good faith to reach a speedy solution to the labor dispute and other issues.
This brings us full circle to the labor dispute in Wisconsin. In protest of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's budget proposal, 14 Democratic legislators(Senate) have fled the state, teachers have abandoned their classrooms and thousands of Americans have convened at the State House, with some sleeping inside the building. Governor Walker's plan, would effectively limit collective bargaining rights for most State employees as well as force them to contribute more money to their health insurance and pensions. Even though some wage reductions have been reached, the governor and the union have not yet reached a compromise as it relates to benefits.
On Saturday February 26th, marches and demonstrations were held around the nation in support of the labor dispute in Wisconsin. The demonstrations were organized by unions, progressive party clubs and Moveon.org. The estimate was that more than 2 million people attended from DC to LA.
Regardless of whether you are a member of an union or not, the strides, accomplishments and successes they have achieved on behalf of workers in the United States can not be denied. Working conditions, safety issues, health benefits, work hours, free weekends, emergency family and maternity leave, sick-days, vacation and wage negotiations to name a few are some of the legacies of union representation and collective bargaining. Whether it is at the union hall level, as a grassroots initiative or a political arm, the end result and objective has always been full representation and fair practices in bargaining and mediation of benefits and rights.
Even with budgetary constraints and an economy that lacks the power to create the necessary jobs to keep the US' GDP growing, all the parties involved must http://www.examiner.com/article/labor-unions-and-organizing-under-attacksit at the bargaining table with an open mind in order to efficiently move all interests forward. To not do so will defeat the true purpose of our Democracy.
No comments:
Post a Comment