Friday, July 17, 2009

Philadelphia Joint Board Website

The Philadelphia Joint Board has just launched a new website. Please be patient as we develop the site, and check back soon for updates, news, and developments. Click here for a link: http://philadelphiajb.workersunitedunion.org/.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Video of Bruce Raynor's Visit to Philadelphia

On July 1, 2009, Bruce Raynor, Workers United President, visited Philadelphia, stopping by and sitting in on a Philadelphia Joint Board staff meeting before visiting and sitting down with workers and employers all across Philadelphia and New Jersey. A video of Raynor's presentation to Joint Board staffers and organizers at the July 1, 2009 Joint Board staff meeting can be found at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvR8G4fBerc.

For a link to the Joint Board's YouTube channel, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/pjbunion.

Monday, July 13, 2009

NAACP Chair Joins the Chorus of Labor Leaders and Advocates Calling for a Quick and Fair Settlement in the Unite Here Struggle

NAACP Chair Julian Bond recently joined the chorus of labor leaders and advocates urging for a quick settlement of the internal dispute between Unite Here and Workers United.

http://putworkersfirst.com/content/naacp-chairman-calls-unite-here-and-workers-united-stop-fighting-each-other-and-fight-workin

Full the full text of Bond's letter to Bruce Raynor and John Wilhelm, please click here: http://www.workersunitedunion.org/content/chairman-naacp-calls-end-dispute.

Full the full list of the labor leaders, activists, and others who have called for an immediate settlement of the ongoing internal dispute, please click here (bottom of page): http://putworkersfirst.com/.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Women's Wear Daily Covers Workers United's Success Before the NLRB

Women's Wear Daily, a fashion-industry trade journal, covered the recent string of Workers United victories before the National Labor Relations Board in their latest issue.

For the entire article, follow the link: http://www.workersunitedunion.org/content/nlrb-rules-favor-workers-united.

SEIU President Andy Stern Issues Powerful Statement to SEIU IEB RE: Ongoing Unite Here Dispute

SEIU President Andy Stern recently issued a powerful statement to his executive board in which he clarifies SEIU's position in the ongoing Unite Here dispute and denounces the false accusations and distortion of reality that characterize Unite Here's campaign against union democracy.

Andy Stern once again reiterates that he, Bruce Raynor, and Edgar Romney have already reached out to John Wilhelm and Unite Here to settle this dispute as quickly and fairly as is practicable, and offered to submit to binding arbitration, a position that a majority of the leaders, advocates, and activists in the labor and progressive movements have supported since the inception of this fight.

The full text of Stern's statement is below:

FROM: Andy Stern, International President
TO: SEIU International Executive Board
DATE: July 7, 2009

RE: Update Regarding Workers United, the UNITE HERE Convention and Our Call for Binding Arbitration

I wanted to give you some background on one issue for our IEB call on Wednesday: the statement of solidarity against inter-union raiding released at the UNITE HERE convention last week.

Over the past few months, there have been a series of accusations and mischaracterizations that have gone with minimal comment from SEIU as we have honored our commitment to détente with UNITE HERE. We have declined to date to take the bait, instead ceasing all hostilities and incursions on UNITE HERE locals.

We have talked for weeks with many leaders including those who signed the letter—some who called for and still support our call for binding arbitration—to reinforce that SEIU agrees to the principles in the letter that oppose raiding, respects core jurisdiction, and wants a quick end to the settlement. Many leaders, including the Officers, were disappointed on how this letter -- which we would have signed -- was provocatively used by a handful of HERE partisans.

SEIU and Workers United continue to focus on what is in the best interest of all our members: bringing this conflict to a swift resolution.

In that spirit, we have repeatedly asked John Wilhelm to join us before an independent panel for binding arbitration. In fact, many prominent labor and progressive leaders have joined our call for John Wilhelm to settle this dispute, including AFT president Randi Weingarten, UAW president Ron Gettelfinger, actor and activist Danny Glover, numerous Central Labor Council presidents, Benjamin Todd Jealous and Julian Bond of the NAACP, NUPGE President Jim Clancy and others. You can read their individual letters here.

Because there has been some confusion as to SEIU's position regarding Workers United and UNITE HERE, I want us all to understand where we stand:

  • SEIU has accepted the framework proposed by UFCW President Joe Hansen, and we stand ready to let President Hansen arbitrate this dispute. SEIU would honor the results of binding arbitration.

  • SEIU accepts that hotels and gaming are the core jurisdiction of UNITE HERE, and we accept Joe Hansen's recommendation on food service being a core jurisdiction for SEIU. We have said to Joe Hansen and John Wilhelm that SEIU is not interested in raiding UNITE HERE members or organizing hotel or gaming workers generally. Both UNITE HERE and SEIU in previous discussions with Joe Hansen made requests for limited exceptions in each others’ jurisdictions based on unique circumstances. SEIU believes that the arbitrator should develop a principle that applies equally to these disputed food service and hospitality workers and we should all live by the results.

  • SEIU is not raiding UNITE HERE, and UNITE HERE must end its attacks on Workers United/SEIU and its raids on our members. SEIU called for a "cease fire" last April and we have honored our commitment. However, while we stood down, UNITE HERE escalated its strategy of attacking Workers United members and leaders, interfering with bargaining, and asking employers to escrow dues. For example:

  • UNITE HERE organizers have been attacking California laundry shops since December 2008. While thousands of California laundry workers are fighting right now for strong contracts for themselves and their families, employers like ARAMARK are using UNITE HERE's interference to refuse to schedule bargaining dates. Please see Attachment #1 for actual leaflets distributed by UNITE HERE.

  • UNITE HERE has contacted more than 1,600 Workers United Employers and urged them to escrow dues and deny access to union representatives. At Atrium Windows in Texas, the company used this to deny manufacturing workers access to health and safety records that workers need to protect themselves from unsafe working conditions. Please see Attachment #2 for letters sent by UNITE HERE asking for employers to escrow dues and cease bargaining efforts with Workers United.

  • UNITE HERE is sending organizers into Workers United locals to disrupt bargaining. In Philadelphia, 2,500 Workers United members who provide school breakfast and lunch to students cannot get the school district to negotiate with them despite the fact that their contract has expired because UNITE HERE sent in 20 organizers to challenge their rights to bargain. Please see Attachment #3 to read a letter from the Philadelphia School District explaining its decision to escrow dues.

  • UNITE HERE has encouraged employers to stop bargaining for first contracts at newly organized workplaces. At the Courtyard Marriott Niagara, where a worker had been fired for organizing, workers are still waiting for their chance to bargain a first contract after John Wilhelm wrote to the newly organized hotel and told the employer to stop bargaining. Please see Attachment #4 to read a letter from UNITE HERE Local 274 instructing a Workers United employer to stop negotiations with “SEIU’s Workers United.”
I know this is not where members need us to focus our time, so we have consciously resisted moving resources away from healthcare, free choice, budget battles and contract fights. We have invested our efforts in encouraging final and binding arbitration. If you’ve followed recent headlines, you know that SEIU is hard at work:

  • bringing strange bedfellows like Wal-Mart to the table to deliver bold healthcare reform,
    saving Hartmarx workers' jobs,

  • fighting unscrupulous employers like Bank of America,

  • challenging the Chamber for its anti-worker positions, and

  • standing for justice for immigrants in this country.
I am proud of this union, and I know that together, the work we do makes a real difference in our members' lives and for the future of hardworking women and men all around this country and Canada.

The ball is now squarely in John Wilhelm's court. Workers United and SEIU have taken every measure, made every effort and gone to every extreme to end this ugly dispute. This will be settled eventually. The only question is how many workers will go without contracts or endure attacks by their bosses in alliance with UNITE HERE in the interim. It is time for binding arbitration with Joe Hansen or any neutral party. We can find a final binding settlement or we can continue to let this dispute hurt workers. SEIU has made our choice.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Workers United a Perfect 5-for-5

5 cases filed, 5 cases won.

To date, the National Labor Relations Board has rendered 5 decisions finding that there is no question of representation concerning the status of the workers across the country and in Canada who disaffiliated from Unite Here in early March of 2009. The NLRB has further found that Workers United affiliates are the proper bargaining representatives, and that continuity remains with the local affiliate, not Unite Here.

Click here for more information: http://workersunitedunion.org/content/workers-united-wins-five-out-five-nlrb-decisions-ongoing-dispute-unite-here-over-representat.

Workers United and SEIU: Going Forward

Where we've been and where we're going: a great video piece on the formation and convention for Workers United and the unification of Workers United and SEIU.

Click here for more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeUwH87E2Lc&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fxperezroselli%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded.

SWU Blogger Shares Commentary on AP Article Covering Philly School Meals Program

SWU blogger Brad Levinson recently blogged about an Associated Press piece on the Philly School Meals Program. His post included commentary on the program and remarks on the implications that implementation of the program would have on low-income school children and their parents, as well as thousands of school food service workers across the country.

Click here for a direct link to his post and a link to the entire AP article: http://serviceworkersunited.org/2009/07/ap-covers-philly-schools-pilot-school-meals-program.php.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Fallout from the Weekend

Please visit http://www.putworkersfirst.com/ for the fallout from the Unite Here convention this weekend in Chicago.

Bruce Raynor's Visit to the Philadelphia Joint Board

On July 1, 2009, Bruce Raynor, President of Workers United, SEIU, paid a special visit to the Philadelphia Joint Board, addressed Joint Board staffers and organizers at a Joint Board staff meeting, and later traveled to a number of shops across the city to address garment, hotel, and laundry workers.

For pictures of Bruce Raynor's visit to Philadelphia, click here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=133761&id=113193796322&saved#/album.php?aid=133761&id=113193796322.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Jack Rushton, President of Local 274, Speaks Out and Urges Settlement for the Good of the Movement

A letter written by Jack Rushton, the president of Local 274 and 40-year member of Local 274 (previously Bartenders' Union, Local 115), is now featured on www.putworkersfirst.com.

The direct link to Jack's letter is: http://www.workersunitedunion.org/content/letter-local-274-president-and-member-jack-rushton.

www.PutWorkersFirst.Com

Delegates from Service Workers United, Unite Here Local 2552, a local union affiliated with both the Service Employees International Union and Unite Here, took the floor of the Unite Here convention yesterday and introduced a resolution supporting binding arbitration as a means of resolving the ongoing Unite Here dispute (http://www.putworkersfirst.com/content/convention-day-1-roundup).

Unite Here's delegates, who were clearly instructed by their leadership to ignore any resolution introduced by SWU members regarding resolution of the conflict, rejected the resolution by voice vote after no discussion was raised on the floor of the convention hall.

For minute-by-minute coverage of the Unite Here convention in Chicago, please visit http://www.putworkersfirst.com/.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Workers United and Unite Here Workers Call on John Wilhelm to Resolve Conflict Between Unite Here and Workers United Through Arbitration

A chorus of labor leaders and advocates have publicly urged John Wilhelm to end the Unite Here conflict, reopen settlement negotiations, and submit any outstanding issues to an impartial arbitrator.

Now, members of both unions, Workers United and Unite Here, have joined the chorus of those who demand a resolution to the internal dispute, calling the conflict "obscene" and a waste of union resources.

Read more here: http://workersunitedunion.org/content/workers-united-and-unite-here-workers-call-binding-arbitration

Monday, June 22, 2009

More Coverage

TomP of Daily Kos has been a great source for some extraordinary coverage of the Unite Here intra-conflict and the Workers United Hartmarx campaign (http://workersunitedunion.org/content/workers-united-members-hartmarx-stand-bailed-out-bank).

Please follow the link below for his latest piece: a comprehensive expose of the Unite Here infighting, including his thoughts on the impact of the union infighting on the labor and progressive movements, and links to letters from labor leaders, groups, and activists urging Raynor and Wilhelm to end this divisive fight now and submit to binding arbitration.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/19/744408/-Workers-and-Progressives-Cant-Afford-Labor-Civil-War-

Please follow the link below for a direct link to TomP's Daily Kos diary.

http://tomp.dailykos.com/

Friday, June 19, 2009

The PJB Stands With Diane

Workers United Local 2347, Niagara's Hospitality Workers' Union, has launched a campaign profiling the destructive impact of the nasty, inter-union war between Unite Here and Workers United.

Diane, a housekeeper at the Holiday Inn in St. Catharines, Ontario, sought to organize workers at the Holiday Inn. After contacting the union and signing up her co-workers, she was mysteriously fired despite 5 years of clean employment with the hotel. Diane's dismissal was brought before the Labor Board, and she was eventually reinstated pending a full hearing of the charges. Now Diane's back to work, but the harrassment, isolation, and intimidation continues. Despite all that, Diane continued to stand up to her Employer and move forward with her campaign to organize the hotel, and eventually won her union.

Now, because of competing claims of representation and efforts by Unite Here to stop recognition of Diane's union and stall bargaining, the Employer has avoided negotiations with the union for the first contract with the hotel.

The Philadelphia Joint Board stands with Diane and Workers United Local 2347 and their struggle to organize the Holiday Inn. Will you?

http://www.istandwithdiane.ca/

Thursday, June 18, 2009

UAW Chief Urges Unite Here's President to Settle Dispute with Workers United for the Good of All Workers

UAW International President Ron Gettelfinger asks Bruce Raynor and John Wilhelm to put their current conflict to rest, and urges John Wilhelm to settle any remaining issues with Bruce Raynor quickly and reasonably for the good of all workers, locally, nationally, and internationally.

Read the full text of the letter below.

June 11, 2009

Dear Bruce and John,

Once again, I am respectfully appealing to each of you to seek a fast and fair settlement to the conflict between your two organizations.

As you well know, the attacks and counterattacks in court, in the media, and within the labor movement have become increasingly bitter and destructive. And they are doing increasing damage to workers, not only to those you represent, but to all of us.

UAW members are now facing perhaps the most critical challenge in the history of our union. As we work to rebuild a great industry and renew U.S. manufacturing, we need a united labor movement to stand with us and show the positive results of collective action.

The last thing we need is an endless internal battle that consumes resources which should be devoted to building real power for working families. The longer this fight goes on, the more it will be used against all of us by the Chamber of Commerce, NAM, the National Right to Work Committee, Richard Berman, and others who aredetermined to destroy everything we have fought for, together, in all our years as trade unionists.

We can't let that happen. The way to stop it from happening is for your two organizations to reach a settlement as soon possible. Joe Hansen's recommendations provide one possible avenue, binding arbitration is another.

Both of you have devoted your entire lives to creating a strong voice for working people. Each of you has accomplished a great deal - and once you put the current conflict to rest, I am certain that each of you will accomplish a great deal more.

In solidarity,

Ron Gettelfinger
President
International Union, UAW

Tell John Wilhelm: Put Workers First!

At a time of unique opportunity and emerging challenges, it is important that we identify any outstanding issues, that we begin working toward a timely and suitable resolution, and that we once again focus on organizing, bargaining, and membership participation. To achieve that end, Workers United has launched a website and petition drive that urges John Wilhelm and Unite Here to submit any outstanding issues and grievances to an impartial arbitrator. The infighting has been damaging to labor, and has interfered with union organizing campaigns and contract campaigns, and the passage of critical pro-union legislation.

Stop the infighting now! Sign the petition today! Tell John Wilhelm: Put Workers First and Say Yes to Arbitration!

http://www.putworkersfirst.com/

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

NLRB Decides in Favor of Workers United

In a major victory for Workers United, the National Labor Relations Board affirmed its preliminary finding of Workers United's right to represent employees yesterday, June 15, 2009, stating that "[UNITE] HERE's competing claim to represent the bargaining unit employees simply has no foundation." The precedent-setting Board decision potentially lays the groundwork for settling dozens of competing claims of representation between Workers United and Unite Here across the country. Perhaps, the end is near.

Please follow the link below to read the press release.

http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-15-2009/0005044312&EDATE

See the full ruling here.

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM116_american.html

The Unite Here Fight Endures, Trade Union Workers are Collateral Damage

In a letter directed to Presidents Bruce Raynor and John Wilhelm, two shop stewards of Workers United Local 471 in Albany, New York describe how the divisive and destructive nature of the internal Unite Here struggle is affecting hundreds of trade union workers locally in New York. In their letter, the two workers' (Josephine Franco and Anne Marie Hayes) stories demonstrate that thousands of union workers like them are the union war's collateral damage, and later add that their Employer has openly refused them the right to bargain collectively on account of the ongoing union turmoil.

While the two workers speak openly about their personal experiences locally in NY, Josephine and Anne Marie are not alone. Rank-and-file Local 274 members here in Philadelphia, and hundreds of thousands of union workers all across the country, suffered experiences similar to those told by Josephine and Anne Marie: denial of representation and due process, and the escrowing of dues by employers confused over which union they should send check-off monies to.

As Josephine and Anne Marie rightly point out, the fight must end, now, and the two leaders must reconcile their differences and move forward for the greater good of the labor movement and our vision of a more just and democratic society.

Read the full text of the letter below.

Mr. Bruce S. Raynor, President
Workers United
31 West 15th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10011

Mr. John Wilhelm, President/Hospitality Industry
UNITE HERE
1775 K Street, NW Suite 620
Washington, DC 20005-1598

Dear President Raynor and President Wilhelm:

We are members of Workers United Local 471 and shop stewards. We work for Sodexho at the Empire Plaza Convention Center in Albany, New York and our union contract expired in December of 2008. Although members are ready and willing to go the bargaining table, our employer refuses to start negotiations, claiming that the internal dispute between Workers United and UNITE HERE prevent it from negotiating the contract because it does not know which union to negotiate with. Both of you have an obligation to put members' interest first. Resolving the UNITE HERE/Workers United dispute is the one clear way to achieve that priority.

We know that both of you chose your professional path because you believe in fighting for and improving the plight of the working poor. You believe in workers' rights to have dignity at work and a voice in their union. But we must share that your conduct as of late regarding the internal dispute between UNITE HERE and Workers United is doing a great disserve to the very members you represent. As such, this dispute must come to an end.

To this end, we encourage both of you to enter into binding arbitration, as it is the most equitable way to resolve this dispute. Article 21-GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE, Section 2, Step 4, of our contract with Sodexho states that both parties will be bound by the Arbitrator's decision. We ask that you both abide by the same rules you have set forth for the members.

Thank you for your time.

In solidarity,

Josephine Franco and Anne Marie Hayes

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Yet Another Labor Leader Pushes Binding Arbitration to End Internal Unite Here Dispute

In yet another letter from a labor leader encouraging binding arbitration as a means to end the internal UNITE HERE dispute that is damaging the lives of workers across the US and Canada, George Tedeschi, president of the Graphics Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, calls for an end to the infighting.

You can read the full letter below.

Bruce S. Raynor, President
Workers United
31 West 15th Street
New York, NY 10011

John Wilhelm, President
UNITE HERE
275 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10001

Dear Bruce and John:

It is with great concern and urgency that I write to you. The internal situation regarding the merger of Unite Here must come to a conclusion for the sake of the entire labor movement. I know that there have been unsuccessful attempts to resolve open issues at mediation, but I now urge you to immediately agree to get back to the table and if necessary, submit any disputed items to binding arbitration.

The entire labor movement is being impacted by this internal dispute. It is harming all of us at a time when we can have an incredible political impact for our members and for working families across the country.

If there is anything that I can do in my capacity, I stand ready to assist you.

In solidarity,

George Tedeschi
President
Graphic Communications Conference/IBT

cc: James P. Hoffa
Andrew Stern

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Danny Glover Calls on John Wilhelm to Enter Binding Arbitration for the Good of the Labor Movement

Today, Danny Glover, famous movie actor and long-time labor advocate, joined the long list of national and international labor leaders and advocates to call for an end to the internal Unite Here dispute. In a letter directed to the labor and progressive movemement, Danny Glover calls on John Wilhelm, General President of Unite Here, to accept the offer to enter binding arbitration, an offer originally proposed by Bruce Raynor, President of Workers United, and Andy Stern, President of SEIU, on April 30, 2009, and later renewed in a letter directed to John Wilhelm on June 3, 2009.

Please read the full text below.

Labor and Progressive Movement:

Labor unions have been a real force for good in the life of my family, and in so many other families like mine. I am who I am, and who I have been able to become, in large part because of the strength and resources my parents and aunts were able to gather from their unions.

That is why I have used my celebrity to support unions and organizing drives, pro-union political candidates and Employee Free Choice. I will always be a union activist, and I am proud of that.

What I am not proud of is what the fight between UNITE HERE and Workers United/SEIU is doing to this movement I care so much about. I stood side by side with UNITE HERE throughout the merger, but it was obvious even from the outside that that organization was not reaching its potential. I supported Workers United members when they decided to go their own way. But now, even after the formation of that new union the fighting has not stopped.

I was just in Niagara Falls, Canada with workers who finally won their union, but now can't get a contract because their employer has gotten wrapped up in this intra-union battle. That is unacceptable and I raise my voice and add to the others that are calling for a quick and fair end to the UNITE HERE merger which ends all this infighting. The stakes for folks like these hotel workers in Canada are too high to let this drag on.

I call on President Wilhelm to accept President Raynor and President Stern's offer to enter into binding arbitration. The sooner the better.

Sincerely,

Danny Glover

For Raynor and Stern's original proposal, please follow the link below.

http://workersunitedunion.org/content/seiu-and-workers-united-lay-out-clear-path-resolving-issues-and-serving-workers

For Raynor and Stern's letter renewing the offer, please follow the link below.

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_090603_open_letter.html

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Former Unite Here Staffers Speak Out in Favor of Workers United

Former Unite Here staffers offer their motivation behind supporting the worker-led movement to form and affiliate with Workers United.

Please follow the link below to read the letter.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/08/18600947.php

UFT/AFT President Calls on John Wilhelm to Resolve Conflict Between Workers United and Unite Here Through Arbitration

Randi Weingarten, UFT/AFT President, calls for an end to the bitter, distracting internal conflict of the Unite Here fight, and urges Raynor and Wilhelm to resolve any outstanding issues through binding arbitration. Article courtesy of Politico.com.

Please follow the link below to read the letter.

http://www.politico.com/static/PPM110_090608_memo_on_weingarten.html

Monday, June 8, 2009

Workers United Executive Board Urges Settlement

On June 5, 2009, in a letter directed to John Wilhelm, the Workers United executive board urged John Wilhelm and Unite Here to enter binding arbitration to resolve all outstanding issues.

Please follow the link below to read the letter.

http://workersunitedunion.org/content/workers-united-executive-board-calls-john-wilhelm-resolve-conflict-through-arbitration

Philadelphia Joint Board and Local 274 Rank and File Respond to Unite Here's Sham Trusteeship Hearing

The Philadelphia Joint Board and rank and file members and elected Local 274 officers demonstrate against the Unite Here sham trusteeship hearing against members of Local 274 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 18, 2009.

Please follow the link below to see the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEFSsWFqCk4&feature=channel_page