Fabric store workers make gains with new contract
Submitted on Tue, 06/06/2006 - 12:49pm
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.
FW Harjit of the Bay Area GMB agreed to get involved in negotiations. We delivered an intent to bargain letter to management on January 20, and began working with a core of pro-union workers.
Management expressed willingness to sign a one-year extension on the spot when we delivered our intent to bargain letter. Management was hoping to give nothing more to the workers.
At that point it became clear that management had given raises to some workers in violation of the contract, particularly those who comprised the anti-union block. Additionally, management got caught up in union-busting efforts and committed several unfair labor practices.
Workers met in a bar after work and unanimously agreed to file charges. From then on the dynamic shifted. Management, alarmed by the charges filed by the Labor Board, decided to be more generous in negotiations. The negotiating committee comprised of FW Harjit and three workers won immediate pay raises, doubled the annual raise, more paid time off, a higher fabric bonus and additional money for the health care fund. Contract language was cleaned up and improved.
How would the workers vote? Of 18 workers, 14 cast ballots. Ten voted to ratify the new contract with substantial gains and no give backs. Four voted no, they don't care if their coworkers get better pay. Two abstained. Two never joined the union and were considered ineligible. Without much fanfare we signed the new agreement while several of the union busters looked on.