Blacklisting By IBEW Leadership & Bosses Denounced
labo...@labornet.org
From: umbra, um...@idt.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact
Jeannette
Gabriel
BLACKLISTING BY LABOR UNIONS AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DENOUNCED
The New York Workers Committee, a group of rank-and-file activists,
announced a campaign to combat blacklisting and intimidation of workers who
have exposed illegal practices by contractors and unions.
"We have been fighting an entrenched union leadership who seems more
interested in backroom deals with construction contractors than in fighting
for better working conditions or in organizing the burgeoning number of
non-union workers." said Mike Conner a blacklisted activist with the
dissident group Electricians for a Democratic Union. (EDU)
In June 1997 Conner ran for the executive board of Local 362, International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. (IBEW) The union officials’ harassment
has included fines, physical attacks and a lawsuit against Conner.
Similar blacklisting in Portland Oregon of 15 EDU members has let to NLRB
hearings and a federal lawsuit seeking damages from both union and
employers. "In some cases the union has already stipulated its guilt. The
NLRB has proposed that the union pay damages of $2 million." explained Pat
Machay a blacklisted Portland worker.
The names of workers who have filed complaints have been posted on
contractor web sites. Unions file bogus internal charges and frivolous
lawsuits against activist members. "We want to publicize the blacklisting
and the union collaboration, both clearly illegal." said Eric Learner a
member of the New York Workers Committee. Rallies with other union democracy
groups and community organizations are in the planning stages.
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