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Indybay Feature
Berkeley Bowl, Inc. Anti-Union Flier to Employees
Flier that management began handing out to employees last week when they brought them into captive audience meetings upstairs with management. Meetings are still going on to this day and seem to be getting all the more sophisticated.
*Warning the following is full of anti-union distortions*
Little Card/Big Trouble
Are You Being Pressured to Sign a Union Card?
The United Food and Commercial Workers are trying to get Berkeley Bowl employees to sign union cards. We are not surprised by this. The UFCW always needs more dues-paying members to support its union. The question is, do you want to pay union dues to the UFCW when they can't guarantee you anything in return? Before you even consider(emphasis on consider)signing a card, make sure you know all the facts. Be careful. Paid Union organizers will say anything(emphasis on anything)to get you to sign a card. Remember the following:
1. Union cards are binding legal documents. Contrary to what the paid union organizer will tell you, signing a card means you authorize the union to represent you in all matters affecting your pay, benefits, and working conditions. With a union, you lose your right to speak on your behalf.
2. Don't believe someone who tells you signing a card is "just for information". This is a misleading statement. READ THE CARD CAREFULLY. The legal words on the card make it clear that you may be signing your rights away. Think about it: if the card was "just for information," why would you have to sign your name? If they really want you to have information, the union can just give it to you without a signature on a binding legal document.
3. Union promises are NOT guarantees. Anyone can make big promises about more money and benefits. The fact is the UFCW cannot guarantee any of those things. The only thing they can guarantee is that you will have to pay dues to them. Even if the UFCW got in here, the Company would not have to agree to any union demands. And we would not agree to any union demands that are not in the best interest of theCompany.
4. If the Union can't get the Company to agree to its demands, the union may decide to take you out on strike. And if the UFCW took you out on strike, your pay would stop, the Company would stop paying health insurance premiums, and you could be permanently replaced.
5. Once you sign a card, it is almost impossible to get it back. That's why you shouldn' t sign anything(emphasis)until you are certain you want to pay the union your hard earned money and face the possibility of a strike.
DON'T SIGN THE CARD UNTIL YOU KNOW ALL THE FACTS
Little Card/Big Trouble
Are You Being Pressured to Sign a Union Card?
The United Food and Commercial Workers are trying to get Berkeley Bowl employees to sign union cards. We are not surprised by this. The UFCW always needs more dues-paying members to support its union. The question is, do you want to pay union dues to the UFCW when they can't guarantee you anything in return? Before you even consider(emphasis on consider)signing a card, make sure you know all the facts. Be careful. Paid Union organizers will say anything(emphasis on anything)to get you to sign a card. Remember the following:
1. Union cards are binding legal documents. Contrary to what the paid union organizer will tell you, signing a card means you authorize the union to represent you in all matters affecting your pay, benefits, and working conditions. With a union, you lose your right to speak on your behalf.
2. Don't believe someone who tells you signing a card is "just for information". This is a misleading statement. READ THE CARD CAREFULLY. The legal words on the card make it clear that you may be signing your rights away. Think about it: if the card was "just for information," why would you have to sign your name? If they really want you to have information, the union can just give it to you without a signature on a binding legal document.
3. Union promises are NOT guarantees. Anyone can make big promises about more money and benefits. The fact is the UFCW cannot guarantee any of those things. The only thing they can guarantee is that you will have to pay dues to them. Even if the UFCW got in here, the Company would not have to agree to any union demands. And we would not agree to any union demands that are not in the best interest of theCompany.
4. If the Union can't get the Company to agree to its demands, the union may decide to take you out on strike. And if the UFCW took you out on strike, your pay would stop, the Company would stop paying health insurance premiums, and you could be permanently replaced.
5. Once you sign a card, it is almost impossible to get it back. That's why you shouldn' t sign anything(emphasis)until you are certain you want to pay the union your hard earned money and face the possibility of a strike.
DON'T SIGN THE CARD UNTIL YOU KNOW ALL THE FACTS
For more information:
http://www.berkeleybowl.com
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Comments
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I am going to email info [at] berkeleybowl.com and let them know that I will no longer be a customer until they cease their union busting. This should be an easy case in Berkeley.
Let's all switch to farmer's markets and mom & pop stores until the Bowl gets its act together. Support the workers!
Unions are not accountable to their members.
They collect the money, but after they fulfill that duty they can mis-manage it a sthey see fit.
Just like the 401K and the enron scandal, where employees paid a percentage of their slalary away to the people in charge who gambled and invested that money as they deemed fit, and later declared bancruptcy,,, so can the union go bust just as easliy.
Unions were created to for-stall legitimate uprising of the workers who demand an equal part of the pie, since they have been slaving at baking it anyhow.
They collect the money, but after they fulfill that duty they can mis-manage it a sthey see fit.
Just like the 401K and the enron scandal, where employees paid a percentage of their slalary away to the people in charge who gambled and invested that money as they deemed fit, and later declared bancruptcy,,, so can the union go bust just as easliy.
Unions were created to for-stall legitimate uprising of the workers who demand an equal part of the pie, since they have been slaving at baking it anyhow.
This is a common propoganda tactic that is taught in business school. Just keep telling the employees who are interested in labour organizing that the union can offer them "nothing" and that they would be suckers to organize or join one. If this doesn't work, just fire the organizers to make an example of them.
The bosses know that union dues aren't collected until a contract is ratified by the rank-and-file. To say or imply that dues will be levied the moment the union is voted-in is a time-honored LIE trotted out by bosses and their scum-bag lawyers whenever a union drive commences.
That said, I think it's important to see that union organizers often give workers the false-impression that bringing in the union (a government-sanctioned, slow-as-molasses process designed to channel worker discontent onto predictable terrain) will necessarily make shit better on the job. This is definitely NOT true. The important thing is that workers are prepared to act collectively on their own behalf. This, ultimately, doesn't require a government ceritified union, whatever union organizers are paid to tell us.
That said, I think it's important to see that union organizers often give workers the false-impression that bringing in the union (a government-sanctioned, slow-as-molasses process designed to channel worker discontent onto predictable terrain) will necessarily make shit better on the job. This is definitely NOT true. The important thing is that workers are prepared to act collectively on their own behalf. This, ultimately, doesn't require a government ceritified union, whatever union organizers are paid to tell us.
who said anything about wanting to go through the slow government process of an NLRB election....
there are other ways...si se puede!!
there are other ways...si se puede!!
If people are serious about this, let's organize a neighborhood campaign and boycott. The union isn't even necessary if the workers unite and the shoppers (remember, no shoppers = no business = no jobs or profits for the bosses) support justice for those who are serving them!
So who's going to organize a boycott then?
So who's going to organize a boycott then?
If people are serious about this, let's organize a neighborhood campaign and boycott. The union isn't even necessary if the workers unite and the shoppers (remember, no shoppers = no business = no jobs or profits for the bosses) support justice for those who are serving them!
So who's going to organize a boycott then?
So who's going to organize a boycott then?
It's true that at times of intense workers' struggles, unions function as a brake on those struggles and have to be superseded. But in the conditions that have existed for the last 25-30 years, unions generally are a lot better for the workers than the lack of a union, which is why they have been under attack by most of the capitalist class.
In any case, the right of the workers to join a union and/or organize in other ways not controlled by the boss must be defended!
I live half a mile from the Bowl and shop there occasionally. I'm willing to put some time and energy into helping the workers who want to organize. I'm not interested in working directly with the paid union organizers separately from the activist workers.
In any case, the right of the workers to join a union and/or organize in other ways not controlled by the boss must be defended!
I live half a mile from the Bowl and shop there occasionally. I'm willing to put some time and energy into helping the workers who want to organize. I'm not interested in working directly with the paid union organizers separately from the activist workers.
I second your thoughts, Aaron
just to make it clear...individual boycotts are nice and all, and maybe even a large enough group of folks will do a boycott in a less organized fashion...
but none of us that are doing the organizing on the inside are calling for a boycott...so if you currently shop at Berkeley Bowl, continue shopping there until we decide collectively(the workers inside + community)that we need to boycott the store
by the way...there are no paid union organizers working on this organizing drive...i don't know if that is clear to folks at this point...the only union staff folks associated with it are our lawyer and our union president
in solidarity...joe hill
but none of us that are doing the organizing on the inside are calling for a boycott...so if you currently shop at Berkeley Bowl, continue shopping there until we decide collectively(the workers inside + community)that we need to boycott the store
by the way...there are no paid union organizers working on this organizing drive...i don't know if that is clear to folks at this point...the only union staff folks associated with it are our lawyer and our union president
in solidarity...joe hill
go ahead boycott, strikes and unions are for lazy white people. you fat pepole need break all the time, you lazy you don't work when you strike i will bring my brothers and cousins and we will get jobs. you get nothing
you and you cousin scab, me and me brothers and sisters breaka you face.
why you not put that much effort into work
maybe then you not live in trailer park
HA!
maybe then you not live in trailer park
HA!
You know, I really love the right-wing trolls here. They seem to think their pathetic stereotypic attempts to imitate people of color aren't transparent.
Good luck with getting your union going! While I totally hear (and agree) with the criticisms of big labor that are being brought forth here, I'd rather hear from the folks who work there about what their needs are.
solidad decosta
spoken word/media artist and all around troublemaker
Good luck with getting your union going! While I totally hear (and agree) with the criticisms of big labor that are being brought forth here, I'd rather hear from the folks who work there about what their needs are.
solidad decosta
spoken word/media artist and all around troublemaker
As someone who identifies an an anarchist but works as a union organizer it never ceases to amaze me the amount of criticism that is heaped against "big labor" by other leftist oriented activists. To be sure nothing is perfect, but realistically speaking, without "big labor" how the hell do you expect to mobilize the massive amounts of people needed to take control of this country out of the hands of the rich and place it with the people. You think the little trainhopping crimethinc punks are going to do it? Or what about the infinitely successful ISO, who can't do anything other than recruit young college freshman who've just moved out of mom and dad's house? You wanna talk revolution, that's fine, but lets get fucking serious about it. Your little conversatiuon over a latte about economic inequality and capitalistic oppression does very little good if your not willing to stand up and actually do something practical about it.
At its core "big labor" has the potential to be a truly revolutionary agent. I'm not saying its the be all and end all, but its a good start. The value of unions lie in the fact that they are some the few institutions in this country that truly allow for democratic partcipation and activism. Furthermore by empowering workers within the work place to realize the potential power that lies in collective action you instill within them an understanding of activism that easily transferable to other aspects of their life. Say you get a workplace leader who is able to organize her worksite and then she takes these skills back to her community to organize her neighbors into vibrant and active community organizations that fight for improvements at home. Through this kind of activism you can begin to build the bonds and networks that are going to be critical to move the fight for social and economic justice to the next level.
I'm not saying that all unions are shining examples of democratic institutions but there are far more good unions then bad. And besides, if you went and had a piece of pizza or a burrito, and it wasn't that good, would you never have one of those things again because of one bad experience? Probably not. If you're not happy with your union that's fine. But remember, it's your union, so get in there and do something about it.
At its core "big labor" has the potential to be a truly revolutionary agent. I'm not saying its the be all and end all, but its a good start. The value of unions lie in the fact that they are some the few institutions in this country that truly allow for democratic partcipation and activism. Furthermore by empowering workers within the work place to realize the potential power that lies in collective action you instill within them an understanding of activism that easily transferable to other aspects of their life. Say you get a workplace leader who is able to organize her worksite and then she takes these skills back to her community to organize her neighbors into vibrant and active community organizations that fight for improvements at home. Through this kind of activism you can begin to build the bonds and networks that are going to be critical to move the fight for social and economic justice to the next level.
I'm not saying that all unions are shining examples of democratic institutions but there are far more good unions then bad. And besides, if you went and had a piece of pizza or a burrito, and it wasn't that good, would you never have one of those things again because of one bad experience? Probably not. If you're not happy with your union that's fine. But remember, it's your union, so get in there and do something about it.
I'm not saying that all unions are shining examples of democratic institutions but there are far more good unions then bad. And besides, if you went and had a piece of pizza or a burrito, and it wasn't that good, would you never have one of those things again because of one bad experience? Probably not. If you're not happy with your union that's fine. But remember, it's your union, so get in there and do something about it.
ya if you want to pay $50.00 for a crappy burrito..go union, if you go into a pizza place and have to put up with lazy employees with an attitude ...go union!
(go order that $120.00 pizza.. good for you!)
unions for lazy-bums who don't work! like current berkeley bowl employees!
if they don't work fire them all!
many,many more workers out there!!
ya if you want to pay $50.00 for a crappy burrito..go union, if you go into a pizza place and have to put up with lazy employees with an attitude ...go union!
(go order that $120.00 pizza.. good for you!)
unions for lazy-bums who don't work! like current berkeley bowl employees!
if they don't work fire them all!
many,many more workers out there!!
You say that "at its core 'big labor' has the potential to be a truly revolutionary agent."
If you mean by "big labor" government-sanctioned and entrusted institutions that bargain with employers on behalf of employees--the most common common definition of the term--I would say that the only way that that "big labor" will become "a truly revolutionary agent"
is if "it" stops being what makes it "it."
Failing to define what you mean by "big labor" allows you to exploit the (literal) ambiguity of the term and impute whatever you'd like to it. No anti-capitalist would disagree that the working class *could* become a "revolutionary agent" against capital, but to suggest that unions as they are presently constituted could become so is another thing altogether.
I think it's important to resist the temptation to reduce our "line" on unions to a slogan or exclamation. "Big labor" has no potential to become a revolutionary agent, in my opinion, but it may, in some instances, contribute resources or make workers *feel* like they have sufficient support to make a go of it. In other instances--far more frequently, i think, then most leftist unionists understand or admit--unions offer nothing to a struggle or not enough to counter-balance workers' reflexive and (i would say) well-deserved antipathy.
The power of the working class to become a social power against capital is latent. Wage-workers have the capacity to fight capital's wars and austerity. In many cases, we can knock concessions out of individual capitalists, provided that we have the will to fight tenaciously and intelligently. The question is whether, in net effect, unions are assisting or retarding such struggles. I'd say that the last thirty years suggests the latter.
If you mean by "big labor" government-sanctioned and entrusted institutions that bargain with employers on behalf of employees--the most common common definition of the term--I would say that the only way that that "big labor" will become "a truly revolutionary agent"
is if "it" stops being what makes it "it."
Failing to define what you mean by "big labor" allows you to exploit the (literal) ambiguity of the term and impute whatever you'd like to it. No anti-capitalist would disagree that the working class *could* become a "revolutionary agent" against capital, but to suggest that unions as they are presently constituted could become so is another thing altogether.
I think it's important to resist the temptation to reduce our "line" on unions to a slogan or exclamation. "Big labor" has no potential to become a revolutionary agent, in my opinion, but it may, in some instances, contribute resources or make workers *feel* like they have sufficient support to make a go of it. In other instances--far more frequently, i think, then most leftist unionists understand or admit--unions offer nothing to a struggle or not enough to counter-balance workers' reflexive and (i would say) well-deserved antipathy.
The power of the working class to become a social power against capital is latent. Wage-workers have the capacity to fight capital's wars and austerity. In many cases, we can knock concessions out of individual capitalists, provided that we have the will to fight tenaciously and intelligently. The question is whether, in net effect, unions are assisting or retarding such struggles. I'd say that the last thirty years suggests the latter.
I agree with you in your assertion that in its present form "big labor" isn't really doing much to build any kind of broad based revolutionary movement. However, I do believe that big labor, meaning the AFL-CIO and some of the major international unions within that federation, does have the potential to be moving things in a much more progressive direction. I'm not going to say that its going to be easy to create a more radical, organizing based culture within those organizations, but it can be done. The potential for that kind of politicizing would be easier for some internationals to tap into than others, particularly in those that have very active organizing programs like HERE, SEIU, and UNITE. I don't think that labor organizing and the radicalization of both their staffs and membership base is going to be enough, but I do think that it is a huge step in the right direction.
you silly americans go march around with your picket signs all day if you want .
I have put in my application for b.b.
when you go out on strike we will take over for you
we just tell the boss we work for tow dollars an hour less and "bingo" we find work so you go protest
we wave to you from in side
I have put in my application for b.b.
when you go out on strike we will take over for you
we just tell the boss we work for tow dollars an hour less and "bingo" we find work so you go protest
we wave to you from in side
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