Workers with Disabilities are Rising up Fighting Back,

Category: Jobs and Employment

Post 1 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Sunday, 10-Feb-2013 22:23:39

http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-7486-union-organizers-picket-annual-peckham-fundraiser-(multimedia).html
Tuesday, June 12 — Four organizers with the United Peckham employees union held banners and signs outside an annual golf outing expressing no love for Peckham Industries and how the union feels they’re treating employees.
The targeted event was the Peckham Community Partnership Foundation annual golf outing and fundraiser.
United Peckham organizers have been trying to organize an employee union within the non-profit garment manufacturer for several months. They claim Peckham pays unfair wages to employees and is taking advantage of the disabled people that are hired. Union organizers have filed grievances with the National Labor Relations Board claiming Peckham is actively engaged in union busting activities.
“Inside the plant they are vigorously organizing an anti-union group,” said Mike Kolhoff, an organizer with United Peckham. “The administration is targeting union organizers for layoffs and suspensions, removing pro-union materials from public bulletin boards and interrogating workers on whether they support the union or not.”
The Sugar Law Center has expressed interest in helping out United Peckham with their claims, Kolhoff said.
Brian Owens worked at Peckham as a garment sewer for two years before being laid off on May 4. He believes he was laid off and not asked to return because he was a key organizer with United Peckham.
As one car was leaving the golf course the driver rolled down his window and argued that Peckham provides jobs to disabled people that normally wouldn’t be able to find employment. So why protest?
“That’s what they want you to think,” Owens responded. “I worked there. I know they take advantage of people.”
Peckham officials have denied that layoffs were a response to the unionization effort.

Post 2 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Sunday, 17-Feb-2013 16:29:58

great article, but my friend, can we have some of your opinion and why you believe in this? and what you want us to get out of it?

Post 3 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Monday, 18-Feb-2013 7:37:52

I want you all to stand up and fight back and stop letting people control your lives, like people at voc rehab or parents, or who ever.

Post 4 by Siriusly Severus (The ESTJ 1w9 3w4 6w7 The Taskmaste) on Monday, 18-Feb-2013 17:24:10

so that means joining a union? don't the union leaders control you or rather the union dues?

Post 5 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Monday, 18-Feb-2013 17:57:53

No, the union leaders do not control the rank and file.

Post 6 by Runner229 (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 18-Feb-2013 20:42:52

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, let's protest against the idea of Voc-Rehab so that we can increase the unemployment rates of the blind!