Vol. 76/No. 48      December 31, 2012

Conn. nursing home workers
fight company-imposed takebacks

A U.S. appeals court that day granted the company’s request to delay their return.

The workers—members of District 1199 of the New England Health Care Employees Union, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union—have been on strike for five months.

The unionists chanted, “We won, we are one” and “Don’t mess with us.” The latter was directed at company security guards standing a few feet away.

The National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of an unfair labor practice suit brought by the union after the company forced the strike in July by unilaterally imposing cuts in health insurance, pensions and vacation time on its workers.

For the workers at West River the celebration had special significance, since exactly one year ago they had been locked out for four months by HealthBridge. After being back at work for only two months they were again forced out on strike. Workers said that upon returning to work in April they were subjected to harassment by management and expect to receive the same reception when they go back in this time.

“It will be hard, but we will stand together,” said Jennifer Musante, a certified nursing assistant.

About 70 workers crossed the picket lines at the struck facilities, according to the Hartford Courant.

Kevin Cothran, a member of the Utility Workers Union of America, came with his wife Antoinette to the rally in solidarity. What the company did was so “blatant and egregious” that the court took the unusual step of intervening in the dispute on the side of the union, Cothran said. “The fight for a contract is not over,” he observed, “but this court order [against the company] will reinvigorate the struggle.”

The company has not responded to a request for comment from the Militant.

At a brief rally, David Pickus, president of New England District 1199, lambasted the company for the funds it expends on high-priced lawyers and scabs.

Messages of support from Connecticut’s U.S. senators—Democrats Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal—were read.

—Tim Craine

Longshore workers on East
and Gulf coasts prepare strike

The ILA and United States Maritime Alliance are negotiating a contract covering 15,000 longshoremen and port workers from Texas to Maine. The contract was due to expire Sept. 30, but was extended 90 days.

The USMA represents maritime terminal operators, port associations and employers of the East and Gulf Coast longshore industry, including 10 of the largest container carriers worldwide.

At a Dec. 10-12 meeting in Delray Beach, an ILA wages committee voted to strike if an agreement is not reached by Dec. 29. It would be the ILA’s first coastwide strike in 35 years.

“The current economic reality demands that we improve efficiency and productivity,” USMA Chairman and CEO James Capo told Ship & Bunker News Nov. 23, calling the ILA leadership “uncompromising.”

“They’re trying to take stuff away from us now in anticipation of the widening of the Panama Canal,” ILA member Phil Hodor told the Militant. He was referring to a third lane being built that will accommodate ships three times larger than those currently passing through the canal.

Ports up and down the Atlantic Seaboard are in a frenzy to get ready for the business, reports the McClatchy News.

“A lot of us work year round for that container royalty check,” ILA member Richard Wesley told the Militant in reference to the “protect container royalty” demand. Container royalties are issued every two years to workers who unload the freight containers based on a percentage of the total tonnage.

The United States Maritime Alliance has proposed capping payments at current levels, which according to SBS Worldwide website, averaged $15,500 per eligible worker last year.

“The cap wouldn’t affect us as much as people in Louisiana and New York/New Jersey because we load cruise ships as well,” said Wesley. “But they’re brothers and sisters. And if you divide a house, it will fall.”

—Tom Baumann

Miami Teamsters strike BlueLinx
after union rep thrown out

Workers struck after one of their union business agents, Don Marr, was kicked off company property, explained Chuck Taylor at the picket line Dec. 11. Taylor has worked at BlueLinx for 15 years.

“The company and the union were in the middle of contract negotiations,” said business agent John Sherman. He explained that the contract stipulates business agents can attend company meetings as part of shop visits, but BlueLinx barred Marr from what it claimed was a safety meeting.

Workers are demanding that their business agent be allowed back and the company continue negotiations.

“No one should have to go out on strike, but you get pushed to the point where you have to put your foot down,” said Tom, a Teamster and truck driver who did not want to give his last name, as he walked the picket line in solidarity.

BlueLinx has hired temporary workers and has brought in full-time workers from their nonunion North Carolina facility. The company has not responded to requests for comment from the Militant.

A rally for the Teamsters is set to take place Dec. 19 in front of the plant at 3201 NW 110 St.

—Tom Baumann

Bus drivers at Ft. Benning in Ga.
fight firings for union organizing

Taylor Motors provides bus service to and from school for children at the Ft. Benning military base in Columbus, Ga.

“We were wrongly terminated Aug. 16 for trying to unionize,” Currie told the Militant while staffing a Jobs With Justice booth at a November protest vigil outside the School of the Americas near Ft. Benning. “We wanted better for our coworkers. The company refused to listen to us, and after the firings gave out an anti-union notice to pressure workers to pull their union cards. The company claims we were fired for ‘malicious gossip.’”

The two drivers appealed Georgia’s subsequent denial of unemployment compensation, Currie said.

Currie, joined by a couple of Atlanta city bus drivers and several other supporters, got vigil participants to sign petitions backing their demands and distributed copies of a letter on their fight addressed to parents and residents of Ft. Benning.

The letter says that bus drivers work without employer-provided medical insurance, retirement or paid sick days, and drive buses without air-conditioning while heat and exhaust escape from the engines located beside the drivers’ seats. It urges parents and residents to contact the company to show support for the demand “Bring Ms. Peoples and Ms. Currie Back To Work!” and to agree to let workers decide whether to unionize.

—Lisa Potash