A-Infos (en) Strike Update on ACORN workers

[john in seattle <bp172@scn.org>]

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      A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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Amidst the looming strikes by public sector workers in Washington State,
the ACORN workers are beginning to see some victories!


Also, the IWW would like to thank EVERYONE who has made a contribution to
the strike fund. Your donations are greatly appreciated.


For a complete background, check out: www.iww.org
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IWW wins victory at NLRB; 
Ruling that  ACORN Charges Against the Union are "without merit"

By x337969

The IWW members on strike at the Washington ACORN office in Seattle won a
huge victory last Wednesday, when Region 19 of the National Labor
Relations Board ruled in favor of the union on a charge filed by Doug
Bloch against the IWW. In fact, they dismissed it entirely, citing lack of
evidence.

The charge, filed about a week after the strike began, outlined claims
that Julia Fitzsimmons a "lead" organizer at Washington ACORN was a
manager, and argued that the entire union drive and the election campaign
was tainted by "coercion by management". While ACORN has based its sole
strategy and public denounciations of the IWW and Fitzsimmons on this one
charge, the IWW has consistently asserted that the charge was without
merit, and was merely a stalling tactic to defeat the drive. The NLRB has
effectively discredited ACORN's reasoning for not granting union
recognition, and has left them scrambling to think up a new reason to not
recognize the union.

The NLRB has also found merit in a host of unfair labor practice charges
filed by the IWW, which includes the refusal to allow workers to
unconditionally return to work, and may result in a substantial back pay
award totaling near $10,000. The union also filed for 10(j) injunctive
relief, which would force the employer upon refusal to reinstate all
workers with back pay awards, and get rid of any scabs that are still
working.

The timing of the ruling is interesting since a day before the IWW made an
offer to Wade Rathke, "chief" organizer for ACORN National, and Doug Bloch
local head organizer, to drop all charges, cease striking , and call off
the boycott, in exchange for union recognition and a date to begin
contract talks. Their reluctance to discuss the union at all, let alone
respond to a reasonable offer, has indeed cost them big and has dealt a
huge blow to their union busting campaign against the Wobblies.

Now that the union has demonstrated that the Washington office is very
legal as a bargaining unit and not "tainted by management coercion", that
there are a majority of workers wanting a union under the Board's "single
facility presumption" rulings, and that those wanting a union are entitled
to it even under the law, it sorts of make you wonder; what excuse will
Wade Rathke and the anti-union leadership clique at ACORN national will
come up with next? Is their lawyer getting tired of the 60 hour weeks yet? 

Wade Rathke, Doug Bloch, the whole world is waiting; are you ready to
negotiate with your union workers? It is your choice, best make the right
one soon.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1) Forward this post to your friends and social justice e-mail
list-serves.

2) E-mail and call the employers, and ask that they cease their
hypocritical union busting tactics. If you have already done so, it never
hurts to call or write once per week.
hypocritical union busting tactics. If you have already done so, it never
hurts to call or write once per week.

Doug Bloch (local boss at Washington ACORN):
206-723-5845, fax 723-8658 (e-mail for the local office has been
discontinued :).

Wade Rathke ("chief" organizer) ACORN National: chieforg@acorn.org;
504-943-0044

Beth Butler:  943-0044 ext. 116 laacorno@acorn.org (Nat'l office)

3) Ask you union local or organization to pass a resolution in support of
the strikers and write a letter to management. Wade Rathke is an
international officer in SEIU, and so if you belong to that union, your
support is especially needed!!!


4) Donate to the strike fund: they can be sent to IWW, 5215 Ballard Ave
NW, Seattle, WA 98107, checks or money orders payable to IWW.








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