Wobblies Storm MPG's Headquarters
Dan Clore
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo
http://tinyurl.com/kwc5sa
Wobblies storm MPG�s headquarters
August 26, 8:21 PM
NY Labor Unions Examiner
by Diane Krauthamer
When Joseph Sanchez walked into the Lower Manhattan headquarters of
Havas Media Planning Group (MPG) to demand the severance pay that he
says the multimillion-dollar advertising company owed him, management
gave him the cold shoulder and escorted him out of the office. On August
20, Sanchez�accompanied by members of the New York City Industrial
Workers of the World (IWW) -- marched into the offices of MPG, demanding
economic justice and restitution for what they claim are the unjust
layoffs of more than 50 former employees.
�MPG seemed caught off guard with us entering their office to speak to
my former coworkers,� Sanchez said. When Sanchez walked into the office,
one of his coworkers came downstairs to speak with him. She told him
that being called downstairs made her nervous, and said that every day
she and her coworkers were worried about getting fired. After moving
past the desk and upstairs to the cubicles, Sanchez and his team of
Wobblies handed out leaflets to his former coworkers, who were both glad
to have the support, yet reluctant to engage with the union out of fear
of losing their jobs. The IWW�s message was very straightforward�they
are offering free legal and advocacy support to workers concerned about
the possibility of future layoffs.
In April 2009, MPG cut 11 percent of its staff, or 50 workers, from its
offices in New York, Boston and Chicago. The multimillion-dollar
advertising giant only gave these workers a four-week severance package.
In order to receive their severance pay, MPG required that the laid-off
workers sign an �Agreement of Separation & Release,� which included the
stipulation that the former employees would not �in any way denigrate
any aspect of the company,� yet the agreement made no mention of the
company not denigrating any aspect of the employee.
�After the layoffs, I asked MPG to consider some changes to the
severance agreement they offered me,� Sanchez said. �MPG doesn't want me
to be able to sue them, but they want to retain their right to sue me.
They also do not want me to denigrate the company yet are not concerned
about denigrating me,� Sanchez said. �I refuse to accept these one-sided
conditions. Now, MPG is refusing to pay me any severance.�
Despite the seemingly fruitless battles, the IWW has caused quite a stir
for MPG�s top executives. Sanchez�s coworker said that everyone in the
office heard about the IWW�s campaign to pressure Kmart to stop
advertising with MPG -- through weekly informational leafleting and
rallies at two Kmart locations in Manhattan -- and management is not
happy about the negative publicity. He said that confronting MPG�s
management in their headquarters is the next step in an escalation
campaign to show MPG them that the IWW means business.
�Management realizes now that we are not just going to go away,� Sanchez
said.
For more info:
http://www.iww.org
http://www.wobblycity.org/
--
Dan Clore
My collected fiction: _The Unspeakable and Others_
(Wait for the new edition: http://hplmythos.com/ )
Lord We�rdgliffe & Necronomicon Page:
http://tinyurl.com/292yz9
News & Views for Anarchists & Activists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smygo
"From the point of view of the defense of our society,
there only exists one danger -- that workers succeed in
speaking to each other about their condition and their
aspirations _without intermediaries_."
--Censor (Gianfranco Sanguinetti), _The Real Report on
the Last Chance to Save Capitalism in Italy_