Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 14:48:10 -0500 (EST)
From: "Nelson N. Lichtenstein" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Border's Unionization Campaign
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please "sign" this petition and forward your name, affiliation
and phone to [EMAIL PROTECTED] The UFCW is planning an ad to run
in the Nation with writers, academics and other Border's
patrons.
This petition was forwarded to me by UFCW Local 951 which is
coordinated the Border's union drive from Michigan.
"We hereby demand that Border's, Inc. bargain in good
faith and negotiate a fair and equitable contract with their
employees who exercised their legal right by voting to be
represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers, AFL-CIO.
Further we demand that Borders, Inc. cease and desist
from all actions intended to intimidate, or demean its
employees; that Borders, Inc. affirm the employees' legal right
to form and join a Union, and remain neutral in employees'
efforts to organize."
Name__________________ Affiliation_______________
Telephone_____________ Address______________________
Again please sign and return to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
Nelson Lichtenstein
Department of History
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(h) 804 295-6769
(o) 804 924-6408
======================================
From: Mike Rhodes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> (by way of Tom Condit
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>)
Subject: Hyundai update -- October 28
Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Labor Alerts/Labor News
a service of Campaign for Labor Rights
1247 "E" Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> (541) 344-5410 http://www.compugraph.com/clr
Hyundai Boycott – Q&A Update: October 28, 1997
The Hyundai boycott has gotten off to an energetic start. Thanks to all of
you who carried out leafleting actions or who plan to do so.
1) Has the AFL-CIO endorsed the Hyundai boycott?
U.S. law places many constraints on union activity and specifically forbids
secondary boycotts. The AFL-CIO is completely supportive of the Han Young
workers' struggle and is playing an important role in getting Congressional
support for the workers' cause. While there are unlikely to be any official
statements from the DC offices and there may not be any memos passed down
through AFL-CIO structures, no one should have any doubts about organized
labor's support for the efforts to win justice for these workers.
(Some of you who have been following the Oregon farm workers struggle know
that their union has organized a primary boycott against FLAV-R-PAC and a
secondary boycott against Gardenburger. Because farm workers fall outside
much of the protection afforded other segments of U.S. labor, they also are
free of the constraint against secondary boycotts.)
2) Can union members take part in leafleting actions at Hyundai dealerships?
Yes! The Supreme Court has ruled that union members can take part in
peaceful informational leafleting in a secondary boycott as long as there
are no picket signs present (case: Debartelo 108 Supreme Court 1392). We
therefore urge all local coalitions only to pass out leaflets and not to
carry picket signs, to avoid problems for union members who wish to participate.
Anyone, union member or not, who takes part in informational leafleting
could potentially face legal action in the form of nuisance suits. While
there never can be a guarantee that anyone exercising their First Amendment
rights on public property will be immune to legal difficulties, it is
unlikely that such suits would hold up to a court challenge.
3) Has the Mexican elections board certified the results of the October 6
union election at Han Young?
No! The elections board has 30 days in which to certify the October 6
election. So far, the board has done next to nothing. In a token gesture of
activity, on Friday, October 24, the board rejected objections by the
government union (CROC) to votes cast by two supporters of the independent
union, STIMAHCS. The board also agreed to accept objections to 25 votes cast
in support of the CROC by persons not legally qualified to vote. (Accepting
the objections does not necessarily mean that the elections board will
disqualify those votes.)
4) Are there any other developments?
Representative Bonior is circulating a sign-on letter – to Hyundai Motors,
with support from Reps. Gephardt, DeFazio and Sanders. Some of these
Representatives met this past weekend with four welders from Han Young and
the Tijuana organizer for STIMAHCS. The Congresspeople were moved and
impressed by the testimony of these workers. The meeting was arranged by the
AFL-CIO.
During the weekend being Friday, October 24, activists in upwards of 20
communities organized leafleting at Hyundai Motors dealerships in support of
the boycott.
5) How can we promote this struggle?
There is another national day of action on Saturday, November 1. Please try
to organize leafleting on that day and on subsequent dates which meet the
needs of your local committee. The Hyundai action packet also has other
suggestions for how to support the boycott.
PLEASE let us know about any activities you have planned in support of this
boycott. After any such activities, PLEASE send a report to Campaign for
Labor Rights.
Funds to support the illegally fired Han Young workers, the Han Young
organizing drive and the nation-wide support campaign can be sent directly
to the Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers, Craftsmen Hall, 3909
Centre Street, #210, San Diego, CA 92103. Make checks out to the SCMW,
earmarked for "HY workers."
"Boycott Hyundai!" bumper stickers will be available next week. Order yours
today! $1.00 each or 10 for $6.00 (add $2.50 shipping/handling per order).
Order from: Labor/Community Alliance P.O. Box 5077, Fresno Ca 93755.
6) How can we stay informed about events?
The Support Committee for Maquiladora Workers has produced a Hyundai action
packet. To receive a copy, contact Campaign for Labor Rights at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or (541) 344-5410. To receive Hyundai alerts directly by
email, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and ask to be placed specifically
on our Hyundai list or, if you would also like information on other
anti-sweatshop campaigns, ask to be added to our All Campaigns list.
Local activists: Please direct inquiries to Campaign for Labor Rights at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] or (541) 344-5410 so that the Support Committee for
Maquiladora Workers does not become swamped with calls and emails.
CAMPAIGN FOR LABOR RIGHTS newsletter subscriptions: Send $35.00 to 1247 "E"
Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. For a sample copy, send your postal
address to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
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