Bay Area IWW Pickets Return to East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse after 4 Year Absence
Submitted on Fri, 05/25/2007 - 10:56am
Four years ago the Bay Area IWW was contacted byworkers at the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse in Oakland. They had numerous grievances and decided union membership would be a way to bring their concerns to management. Eventually the workers voted unanimously for the IWW.
During and after the union organizing campaign management took a very mean spirited approach to the union workers. Including harassment, intimidation, firing and forcing workers to quit. On top of the union busting strategy the company lost grant money to run an art outreach program to local schools. This development caused four workers to be laid off. Eventually, the union walked away from the bargaining table as nearly all the workers were laid off, fired or quit. Unfair Labor Practice charges were filed but had little effect.
When the IWW found out that the Depot had a new store in a gentrified strip of north Oakland and was holding a “grand opening” last Saturday, the 19th of May we decided to show up with picket signs and leaflets to alert the local community that “union busters” had moved into the neighborhood.
Before Saturday we were pretty sure the current workers understood what we were trying to do and they were ok with the plan. Ten members of the Bay branch showed up promptly at 11 am to hold an informational picket. Not surprisingly many would be shoppers refused to cross our picket line. Management was up to their usual tricks, pretending to not “get it” etc. They sent a board member out to ask numerous questions and eventually agreed to “consider” writing a public apology for their “union busting” and to inform the current workers that if they choose to go union, the company will remain “neutral”.
For background on the Bay Area IWW's campaign at East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse, please visit this page.