Vol. 71/No. 40 October 29, 2007
The workers belong to UNITE HERE Local 75. Management locked out the workers after 90 percent of the union’s members rejected a company contract offer. The lockout has mostly affected restaurant and room service workers.
“They did that to divide us,” said Kris Ibauchei, a shop steward who worked in the kitchen. “But they won’t succeed,” he added, pointing to the number of coworkers joining the picket line before or after their regular shift.
Workers from other hotels in the area also came to show their support.
The main conflict is the company’s refusal to accept the union’s demand for a common contract expiration date with all other hotels in Toronto.
“We are one year behind the other contracts,” said Ibauchei. “This results in wage differences of Can$0.80 to $1.50 [Can$1 = U.S.$1.02].”
—Michel Prairie
Illinois pickets denounce
firings over ‘no match’ letters
AURORA, Illinois - Dozens of workers have been picketing the Ballco Manufacturing Co. here since September 20. They are demanding the rehiring of 35 workers fired in mid-September.
Bosses at the valve-making plant dismissed eight workers September 19, saying they had problems with their Social Security numbers. The next day 27 workers walked out in protest and were fired too. Since the walkout, most of the workers have signed up with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America.
The UE has filed unfair labor practices charges against Ballco with the National Labor Relations Board and a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Those fired were never shown any documents stating that their Social Security numbers were incorrect, workers on the picket line said. Ballco told union lawyers there are no such documents in company records.
Workers at Ballco also organized a delegation of community activists and church leaders in an unsuccessful attempt to meet with company managers to appeal the firings.
—Harvey McArthur
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