Tennessee Commercial Warehouse Layoffs Eliminate Union Supporters

[Omaha Steve]

Source: reuters

Anti-union Company Targets Pro-Union Workers in Effort to Quash Organizing
Effort

KINGSPORT, Tenn., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a vicious attack on
human and worker rights, 33 employees were permanently laid off by Tennessee
Commercial Warehouse (TCW) in retaliation to the workers exercising their
legal right to join a union. The overwhelming majority of the workers had
signed authorization cards with Teamsters Local 549 in Blountville, Tennessee
to retain the union as their bargaining representative.

Drivers from TCW approached Local 549 in October 2007 looking for help in
addressing issues they encountered in the workplace. The company was
constantly making payroll errors and altering the wage structure with little
or no notice to the workers. Additionally, TCW only offered expensive,
insufficient health insurance that continued to rise in cost.

"TCW staged an aggressive anti-union campaign against these workers, but the
drivers stood strong," said Scott Armstrong, President of Teamsters Local 549.
"Nearly 80 percent of the drivers had signed authorization cards, so the
company permanently laid off the entire unit rather than bargain for fair pay
and benefits."

Armstrong filed for recognition for the unit on December 19, 2007 with the
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The board scheduled a recognition
hearing for January 4, 2008, but cancelled the hearing due to TCW's layoffs.
The company claimed the layoffs were due to a lack in work, however TCW's
actions were inconsistent with its position. Armstrong has filed unfair labor
practice charges against TCW with the NLRB.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS185864+07-Jan-2008+PRN20080107

[Omaha Steve]

1. It is so nice labor supports Democrats, but there is no room for labor in LBN

A private note about WHY labor stories get moved might help eliminate bad feelings or misunderstandings. This story was about illegal activity and charges have been filed. Labor will spend $100 million plus on this election cycle, most of that will go to Democrats.

OS