San Francisco Bay Area GMB

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Shattuck Cinema Workers Rally for Union

Posted Fri, 06/16/2006 - 11:48pm by x345292

Shattuck union workers brought their campaign for union recognition to the streets of Berkeley on Wednesday afternoon.  About sixty people including many Shattuck workers gathered in front of the theatre to wave signs, hold banners, sing, shout play guitar and fiddle.  The message was clear, "we are union and we want changes now".  Aurelaea River, a long time Shattuck Cinemas worker brought aong her electric violin and got the proceedings under way by playing a fast tune. Then Ryan from Riot Folk played guitar and sang to get the crowd together.    

Next came Ryan Hatt, one of the workers, to list what the workers demands are. A living wage, health care coverage, corporate accountibility, and respect.  And a door chair.  workers stand for long periods taking tickets.  They had a chair but corpoate didn't approve.  Chair gone.  Then a meeting took place a couple of weeks back with the CEO.  He came to explain what a union is.  He wasn't quite sure what a union is after showing up an hour late. But the chair reappeared.  Only to dissapear a few hours later.  Rumor has it that management thought the union might claim the re issuance of the chair as a victory.  The chair is stashed away for now.

Shattuck Cinemas Employees to Cast Votes

Posted Fri, 06/16/2006 - 11:47am by x344543

By Judith Scher, Berkeley Daily Planet - June 16, 2006. 

Standing on the bed of a blue pick-up truck, draped with a red Industrial Workers of the World banner and energized by guitar and fiddle music, Shattuck Cinemas workers and their supporters addressed working conditions at the theater Wednesday.

The rally outside the downtown theater on Shattuck Avenue near Kittredge Street was a prelude to the National Labor Relations Board-sponsored union election scheduled at the theater today (Friday).

“They need to treat us with respect,” Ryan Hatt told the crowd that grew to around 50 listeners. “There are no benefits, unless you count free movies and popcorn. People working [at the Shattuck] for over six years get $8.05 cents an hour. What we’re fighting for is a voice.”

Fabric store workers make gains with new contract

Posted Tue, 06/06/2006 - 11:49am by x344543

By x345292 - Industrial Worker, June 2006

After six months of preparation and negotiation eighteen workers at Stonemountain and Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley, California, ratified a renegotiated agreement with store owners Suzan and Bob Steinberg.

The road to the final agreement was bumpy, twisting and fraught with peril. For example, a small group of workers tried to decertify the union. They worked steadily to build support among their coworkers. When they missed a legal window of opportunity (between 90 and 60 days prior to the expiration date of the contract) they red-baited and attempted other smear tactics.

As with most retail business, Stonemountain hires mostly part time workers, pays low wages with no benefits and turn-over is high. The union has changed these conditions somewhat. Still, most of the workers who voted for the union in 2003 have left or were fired. By the time meetings began to discuss proposals for a new contract the shop was in disarray. One of the new workers, Holly, agreed to be shop delegate replacing Wayne, who was one of the original core of union organizers but needed a break. In the meantime several of the new hires had not been signed up. As time went on they formed the core of the anti-union workers. Included among them was a long-time employee who likes to play boss. In the middle were several workers who repeatedly shifted sides.

Shattuck Cinemas Employees To Vote on Forming a Union

Posted Wed, 05/31/2006 - 11:55am by x344543

By Judith Scherr - Berkeley Daily Planet, May 30, 2006

Workers at the downtown Shattuck Cinemas, owned by Landmark Theaters, who earn just above minimum wage with no health benefits, will have their say about whether they form a union.

The National Labor Relations Board has scheduled a vote for June 16, according to Harjit Singh Gill, organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World.

Twenty-two of the 28 workers petitioned the NLRB for the election.

Winning the vote “means the workers will be able to sit down at the negotiating table and make demands," Gill said, noting that the right to form a union is just the beginning and that negotiating a contract will be the hard part.

The only other unionized Landmarks Theater is Kendell Square, in Cambridge, Mass. The workers there have been in negotiations since July, Gill said.

In addition to fair wages, Gill said the workers want a contract with a grievance procedure, which they do not have now. Landmarks Theaters did not return requests for comment.

Shattuck Cinema Union Campaign Update

Posted Tue, 05/23/2006 - 1:44pm by x344543

The National Labor Relations Board has given The Shattuck an election date! On June 16th, between 4:30 and 6:30pm on location at the theatre, the workers will have the opportuinty to make their voices heard and vote for the union.

This could not have all come together without the commitment of the workers and the Industrial Workers of the World. We will be holding actions regularly between now and the election date, and look forward to having the opportuinty to start the process of gaining workplace democracy.

Please email the Landmark chain and express your support for the union, we have not won yet, but with the combination of community, union, and worker solidarity, we will! Stay Tuned for our weekly updates.