At a time when Union members should be working on getting the Employee Free Choice Act passed so that unorganized workers can more easily form unions, a splinter group of former UNITE HERE officers, staff, & members are attacking our Union with a “swiftboat” type smear campaign, complete with personal attacks and false promises. This group includes former Minnesota State Director Jaye Rykunyk and Local 17 Rep Julie Boots, both of whom resigned without notice, and are now part of a something called Workers United /SEIU. Their idea of “organizing” seems to be to try and get the members of Local 17 who already are in a union, to leave UNITE HERE and join them, instead of organizing workers who do not already belong to a union. This is called RAIDING. * for more information on how and where SEIU is trying to do this check out two of the most influential and widely read progressive blogs that have posts about SEIU and our struggle. Go to the sites below or www.uniteherelocal17.org for a direct link.

Daily Kos:  http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/3/24/712206/-WaPo:-an-awkward-moment-for-SEIU

MyDD: http://www.mydd.com/story/2009/3/25/01145/1081

In early March, the Executive Board and a majority of Local 17 members signed a petition and voted to remain part of UNITE HERE, to disaffiliate from the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board, and to put the resources and control of our union back into Local 17. As President of Local 17 and a 37 year dues paying member of the local, I completely agree that this is the direction for us to go. UNITE HERE International Union is a union of hospitality workers. Contract expiration dates in 2009 have been lined up across the country for workers at 15 airports with HMS Host contracts, including ours, and for hotels in several cities, including ours, in 2010. This means that Local 17 will be part of a nationwide strategy, involving thousands of UNITEHERE members. We are beginning to prepare for these negotiations by starting to build committees within each shop. I believe that the way to build a stronger union and  achieve and enforce the best contracts, even in this difficult economic time or maybe I should say because of this difficult time, is by having  educated, well trained, , organized worker committees that are ready to stand up and fight. Although there are many challenges facing us, I am energized and ready lead this Local with your help.  For more information about UNITE HERE check out www.oneunitehere.org.

There is a lot of misinformation out there surrounding a bill in Congress called the Employee Free Choice Act. Big money interests, some corporations, and some Republicans like Norm Coleman, who are against this worker friendly bill, are responsible for deliberately causing confusion. They are spending as much as $50 million dollars on TV/ newspaper ads to try and stop workers from having a “Free Choice”.  

     These paid political ads are lies, making Union leaders look like Mafia type thugs, and are designed to have you believe that “unscrupulous Politicians are trying to do away with your right to a secret ballot during a union election”.  THIS IS UNTRUE! The Employee Free Choice Act would actually allow workers to choose a union without the employer harassment & intimidation usually experienced in the so called “secret ballot” union election campaigns.

    Since 1935 there have been two ways for workers to prove their desire for a union.

One way is to hold a Government sponsored secret ballot election. The other way, which is faster and easier, is to hold a “Majority sign up” election, also known as a card count election. The Employee Free Choice Act does not change either method.

The difference proposed by the enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act is that workers would be able to decide which method they wished to use. Presently, it is management who decides. We believe it should be up to workers, not management, to decide which process they want to use. Opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act know that if the choice is in the hands of workers, workers will pick the fastest and least intimidating method—and that has the rich and powerful upset. The new law would also carry fines and penalties for Employers who break the law. Presently, there are no fines or real penalties, so many Employers fight having a union by intimidating and coercing its workers and feel very comfortable breaking the law to get their way.

      Since the 1950’s there have been no meaningful changes to Labor Law for the purpose of Union elections—current law is grossly outdated and slanted toward Management. The bill before Congress would make necessary changes that are long overdue.

     If you have questions about the Employee Free Choice Act, call Martin at 612-379-4730 ext: 14 or email mgoff@here17.org.