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Two non-union women fired for refusal to sign for UPS deliveries
December 7, 1997Carpenters' Business Agent Arrested
December 5, 1997Sparks to lose $1 million from theater construction delay
September 8, 1997K-Mart union election deadlocked 15-15-1
August 14, 1997Union picketing Sparks K-Mart Distribution Center
August 14, 1997Teamsters Local 533 gets contract for RTC/Citilift workers
July 30, 1997Labor News Roundup
September 14, 1997
Blue light special ends in the tie department:
K-Mart union election deadlocked 15-15-1
Union files more than 20 federal charges
SPARKS, Nevada (U-News)—The first skirmish in the
battle to unionize K-Mart distribution center workers ended in
the expensive tie department. Fifteen mechanics and maintenance
workers supported bargaining as a group through Operating Engineers
Local 3. Fifteen voted against. The outcome rests on an unopened
ballot challenged by the union. Organizers say that the worker
in question was transferred into the department by the company
specifically to water down the voting pool. That charge will join
almost two dozen others filed with the National Labor Relations
Board (NLRB). Several other relatively new workers had their ballots
opened and counted by federal election supervisors late last night.
Other charges are even more serious.
"It's illegal to promise or give rewards to
voters just before an election," said Bob Miller, the union's
organizing chief. "We have several smoking guns in this case.
One worker who is quitting was apparently promised a job in another
state. Another employee was pushed to move a co-worker against
the union. That's illegal. Worst of all, exactly 24 hours before
the start of balloting, the plant's general manager promised to
return to another compensation system which had paid the workers
more money in the past. That's vote-buying. It's illegal and you
can't do it. K-Mart did," Miller said.
"We still managed a draw after workers were
subjected to all this late maneuvering on top of weeks of coerced
attendance at mind-numbing indoctrinations by $1,000 a day union
busters," Miller added. "This shows how strongly the
longtime workers wanted their union. Not even running in ringers
at the last minute could defeat them. They will prevail,"
he said. Based on its findings, the NLRB may order the company
to recognize the union or call a new election.
-30-
More workers organizing:
Union picketing Sparks K-Mart Distribution Center in support
of Thursday vote
SPARKS, Nevada (U-News) Pickets went up at 6:00 a.m.
Tuesday August 12 at the Sparks K-Mart Distribution Center in
support of a union vote this Thursday, August 14. A majority of
31 mechanics and skilled maintenance workers have signed cards
informing the National Labor Relations Board that they want to
bargain as a group through Operating Engineers Local 3.
"Many of the workers who approached the union
have worked at the K-Mart center for two to three decades. They
have not made this decision lightly," said union business
representative Chuck Billings.
"They have seen longtime co-workers in building
maintenance, housekeeping, payroll and trucking fired and told
to apply for their old jobs with subcontractors offering lower
pay with no benefits. They saw their pension plan permanently
frozen and eliminated, costing them the retirement security they
depended on. They went for years without raises until they started
talking unionization. K-Mart is now profitable, but resists the
request of these loyal, longtime workers who want to bargain as
a group," Billings added. The truck drivers faced pay cuts
of four dollars per hour under the subcontractor.
"This is hard, hot, dangerous labor. Employees
have seen what the company has done to other workers. In 1995,
a Florida jury awarded three pharmacists $2.17 million in age
discrimination damages and back pay. A longtime worker at the
Sparks facility was intentionally fired on trumped-up charges
to rob him of his pension benefits. A Washoe District Court jury
awarded George Ponsock $443,120 in back pay and damages. That
judgment was affirmed in a landmark decision by a unanimous Nevada
Supreme Court," Billings stated. (K-Mart Corp. v. Ponsock,
103 Nev. 39, 732 P.2d 1364, 1987)
"Some of the voters in this election worked
with George Ponsock and are well aware that this company says
whatever is convenient. The front of the employee handbook states
'we are not anti-union but simply pro-associate.' However, the
very last page declares that 'irrespective of any statement contained
herein...the company can terminate the relationship at will at
any time with or without cause,'" Billings noted.
"Rather than respect the will of its workers
and prove its own statement about not being anti-union, K-Mart
retained Dave Somerville, an expensive union-busting consultant.
The company recently spent over $163,000 on such people to stop
what became a union win at the Oakland K-Mart Superstore. These
hired guns make $1,000 to $1,500 per day preaching to captive
audiences in mandatory meetings, with unions never allowed the
same access. Their ruthless tactics have resulted in our filing
charges of illegal, unfair labor practices, including intimidation,
interference, discrimination and coercion" Billings said.
"All that consultant money should go to pay employees,"
he added.
Sparks center manager Dan Ward ran a K-Mart distribution
facility in Greensboro, N.C., when workers voted in favor of the
Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE).
The mostly African-American workforce objected to being paid $4
per hour less than employees at other K-Mart warehouses. The first
union contract generated pay raises of 22 to 52 percent as well
as a wide range of benefit improvements.
The corporation came under local criticism last
year for building its controversial northwest Reno Super K-Mart
with low-wage, out-of-state labor. Established in the 1960s, the
sprawling Sparks facility covers 33 acres.
Informational picketing starts at 6:00 a.m. at
the corner of Kresge and McCarran and will continue at staggered
times until voting begins Thursday afternoon. Operating Engineers
Local 3 represents a wide range of workers throughout Nevada.
Its more than 35,000 members in four western states include municipal
employees in Sparks, Ely, Elko and Susanville and Lander and White
Pine counties. They also represent Storey County deputies and
dispatchers, Mineral County dispatchers and Newmont Mining heavy
equipment operators.
-30-
Teamsters Local 533 reaches agreement on behalf of RTC/Citilift workers
Teamsters Local 533 recently concluded six months
of negotiations on a new contract for Citilift employees at the
Regional Transportation Commission of Washoe County. The new agreement
covers both operations and maintenance workers, about 65 people
employed by subcontractor ATC/Vancom. Citilift is a shuttle service
specializing in the transportation needs of the elderly and disabled.
The Citilift maintenance department voted for Teamsters
representation last October. The contract for operations employees
was due to expire at the end of June. Both departments were combined
into a single contract which went into effect for four years beginning
July 1, 1997. Highlights include shift pay and training pay raises.
Full-time mechanics with more than three years' service received
a raise from $12.55 to $13.95 per hour. Bus washers with three
to 12 months of service went from $7.35 to $7.60 per hour. All
workers will receive raises on July 1 through the year 2000.
Local 533 secretary-treasurer and CEO Louis E.
Martino, Jr., is a former RTC/Citifare driver who led the union's
successful drive to organize the Washoe County mass transit system.
He served as business agent for the local before his election
as secretary-treasurer. Martino also serves on Teamsters President
Ron Carey's select panel which advises the top leadership on new
internal organizing strategies. Martino is currently in Washington,
DC, working on the national United Parcel Service contract negotiations.
In the first six months of this year, Local 533 won elections
to represent workers at American Linen, the City of Fallon and
the IGA Super Center market in Ely. Regionally, the Teamsters
won an election to represent Reno Air flight attendants where
negotiations will start soon.
-30-
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