Thursday 27 September 2007

Let it Ride

So I hand in the petition and Lance says he has never seen so many signatures so quickly in his thirty years of organizing. We go though the list and i witness all the names without and he leaves with the petitions and I sit and wait.

That Friday the labour board informs management the workers have applied for certification and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 401 will be their bargaining agent. From what I hear they are in shock.

As predicted they call their lawyers and for the first time in history start sending the employees letters. The first one insinuates they didn't know the workers were unhappy and if they were why didn't they just say something...so over the next 10 days they send out seven letter in a poorly disguised misinformation campaign. They start intimidating the staff who are involved. I'm told to stay in the kitchen and Dawn is told more work and less talk...Gabe is questioned...one contract worker is fired and a sympathetic manager is suspended with pay.

So they send letters saying how much they care then they treat us differently...everyone can see what is going on and those who can't have some one close by to explain...

Management is in essence bureaucrats; they are not bad people just a little spoiled...

So after witness their counter strike I know the union movement is in good shape and management is too far behind.

Of course they are well funded, better educated and have access to information, but down a 139 to nothing, I don't care how good you are, we'll win when all we need is a hundred yes votes.

(the eligible voter list is in and the magic number is 242, but only a couple hundred or so will vote.)

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