On March 8, 1908, working women in the needle trade industry took to the streets of New York City demanding better working conditions, higher wages, shorter workdays and the overall improvement of women's lives in this country. This year, on the 100th anniversary of that historic march, commemorated since 1910 as International Women's Day, join the Vermont Workers' Center in honoring all the working women who have fought for social justice with a short film, a panel discussion about working women's struggles in Vermont, and a social with refreshments and live music by VWC's own group, the Wildcat Strikers.
6pm Screening of With Babies and Banners, which tells the story of the women who became the backbone of The Great General Motors Sit Down Strike of 1937 — the labor movement's key to the successful drive for industrial unionism and a better life for working Americans.
7pm Panel discussion on the history of organizing around women's economic issues in Vermont and the history of the Women's Union, led by Elaine McCrate, Economics Professor at UVM.
8pm Refreshments, socializing and live music by the official band of the Vermont Workers' Center, the Wildcat Strikers.
[ download flyer ]
International Women's Day Party March 8
The Truth About Forming A Union at Stanley
[published in the St. Albans Messenger, Saturday, Feb 16th in support of workers forming a union at Stanley Inc, a federal contractor at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service center in St. Albans]
By James Haslam
Since 1998, the Vermont Workers' Center has operated a free informational service called the Vermont Workers Rights Hotline. During that time we have learned how hard it is for non-union workers in this state. "At-will" employment means lots of workers lose their jobs every day for no reason. Non-union workers also suffer from unpaid wages, unfair treatment, sudden schedule changes and arbitrary reductions in benefits.
During the past decade, the largest single source of workers rights hotline calls has been Vermont Service Center in St. Albans. When it was Labatt- Anderson we got lots of calls. When it changed over to SCOT, there was even more calls. And now, with Stanley, the calls have increased even further. In the past, workers have called about forced mandatory overtime, unfair firings and discipline, and poor treatment. Hotline callers from the VWC have also talked about the lack of raises, the wage re-classifications, and the loss of personal and sick time. Most recently, VSC workers have called the hotline to ask for the truth about the misinformation Stanley management is distributing in the work place.
We've done some research about the questions we've been asked more frequently. Here is the truth about some of the myths about forming a union at Stanley.
Myth #1: Only the Department of Labor (DOL) can do anything about wage increases.
Truth: There currently is a DOL investigation into possible job misclassifications under the previous contractors commonly referred to as SCOT. If the DOL rules that workers were misclassified, then some employees may get some back pay from the former contractors. Stanley is not a subject of this investigation. Stanley will not have to pay because of this investigation.
VSC workers can only get pay back from Stanley if a new investigation is initiated but this could take months or years to happen. The only other way VSC workers can get a higher rate pay through the DOL is if the DOL raised the job classification rates. The last time this happened was 4 years ago.
By forming a union and having the ability to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement workers will not only be able to change these wrongful misclassifications of job titles but will also finally have the ability to negotiate raises. Most importantly, if there was a union when Stanley took over they would not have been able to unilaterally cut peoples wages and change their job titles.
Finally, under the Service Contract Act, employers can submit additional wage costs which occur because of contract negotiations to the federal government for reimbursement. So Stanley workers could get a raise and the federal government could pay for it.
Myth #2: When people have unions you have to pay union dues and the dues will negate any wage increase.
Truth: Yes, part of having a union is paying union dues, but no one pays any dues until there is a collective bargaining agreement (contract) has been reached and ratified by all the workers. Workers are not stupid, they would not negotiate a contract with tiny raises that would be smaller than union dues. Studies have shown that when workers have the ability to collectively bargain wages and benefits, they do much better than when it is solely management that determines what the wages and benefits will be. In the US, union members make about 30% more than their non-union counterparts. Today, union workers on average make $5 more an hour than non-union workers. Union dues are a small price to pay for livable wages, job security and decent benefits.
Myth #3:If Stanley workers vote to form a union then they will no longer have access to Stanley's 4O1K - retirement plan.
Truth:It would be illegal for Stanley to take away any of Stanley's employees' retirement benefits because they form a union. Federal labor law prohibits companies from taking away any existing benefits because workers unionize. In fact, the only way to insure that nothing is arbitrarily taken away is to form a union and put everything into a legally binding contract.
From a workers' rights perspective the choice of having a union at Stanley is clear. It is really important for workers to have a union contract to make sure that no matter what contractor is acting as the employer, there is a fair agreement that ensures decent wages and provides workers with protection. It is not only important for the people who work at the VSC but for everyone in the community. When Stanley executives cut wages, they are essentially taking thousands of dollars out of community and putting it into their Virginia bank accounts. They are trying to make a profit at their employees' expense. If Stanley workers want fairness and respect, then the way to get it is by forming a union.
James Haslam is the Director of the Vermont Workers' Center, a membership organization of Vermonters based in Burlington and is committed to fighting for workers' rights and economic justice. There website is www.workerscenter.org and the Vermont Workers' Rights Hotline is toll-free 866-229-0009.
The Chinese Labor Movement: Stories From The Inside
6:30pm, Vermont Workers’ Center, 294 N.Winooski Ave. Burlington
Talk by Ellen David Friedman, Vermont Workers' Center founding member and long-time labor organizer is just back from a half-year in Guangzhou, where she is engaged in the Chinese labor movement at several levels. Ellen will share first-hand stories ranging from her work with migrant workers groups organizing in dormitories of sweatshop factories, to involvement with reform-minded leaders of the All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) -- A chance to look more deeply into the reality of life and labor dynamics for one-quarter of the world's workforce
Livable Wages Now! Burlington Livable City Coalition Goes to School Board Meeting Feb 12th
After a very successful City wide Livable Wage Button Day in January the Burlington School District continues to drag their feet in negotiations with Burlington Food Service Workers and Maintenance Workers. Despite the livable wage victory for the Burlington Para-Educators and the BEA in November 2007, Food Service and some Custodial & Maintenance workers, members of AFSCME Local 1343, have been in negotiations for over a year.
At the School Board Meeting on Tuesday Feb 12th, members of the Burlington Livable City Coalition delivered this clear message to the Burlington School Board and Administration that Burlington School Support Staff deserve a Livable Wage.
See the video message "Livable Wages Now!" that we played at the Board Meeting.
See video clips of past School Board meeting delegations
To learn more read the "Report on Livable Wages in Burlington Schools" put out in June 2007. Among other things the report highlights the fact that no Food Service Workers in Burlington receive a livable wage.
Social Justice Film Series: SIR NO SIR, Feb 8th
Social Justice Film Series, 7pm, Fri, Feb 8
Vermont Workers' Center Social Justice Film Series presents:
"SIR NO SIR"
7:00pm, Workers' Center, 294 N. Winooski Ave, Burlington. Free public event. This powerful film that tells the untold story of the massive movement within the military to end the Vietnam War. Sir No Sire is a feature-length documentary which focuses on the efforts by troops in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War to oppose the war effort by peaceful demonstration and subversion. It speaks mainly to veterans, but serves as a ready reminder to civilians that soldiers may oppose war as stridently as any civilian, and at greater personal peril.
On January 21, the Vermont Workers' Center started there ongoing Social Justice Film Series with the powerful film "At The River I Stand" and then on January 25th played "SiCKO". Each film drew a couple of dozen local residents. After "Sir No Sir" the Social Justice Film Series presents "The Take" at 7pm on February 22nd.
More info: Call 861-2877 or email info [at]workerscenter.org
Healthcare Statehouse Rally Day - 11am, Thurs, Feb 7th
Join the Vermont Workers' Center in saying Healthcare Is A Human Right! Thursday is the follow-up rally from the 200+ people who came to the Statehouse on January 9th to put H.304, the Universal Hospitalization Bill, back on the table. The Vermont WOrkers' Center believes that high-quality affordable healthcare, from cradle to grave, should be a basic right of everyone and H.304 is a possible step in that direction. High salaried hospital CEOs intent on maintaining the status quo are talking with you legislators. Are you?
Come to Montpelier this Thursday, February 7th, and make your voice heard. Meet at 10:30 AM in the Pavilion Auditorium in the Pavilion Building, 109 State Street (just east of the Statehouse). At 11:00 AM we will head into the Statehouse for a presentation and then time to talk individually with your representatives. You can find out more about the bill at SaveVermontHealthCare.org and if you want to join the Vermont Workers' Center Healthcare Action Network, email james [at] workerscenter.org or call 861-2877
Two Union Victories at Stanley Contractors in St. Albans!
February 1, 2008: For the second day in a row, employees of a contractor of Stanley Associates at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Center have voted to join UE. Despite bad weather, workers employed by Northrup Grumman Technical Services Inc. traveled to NLRB polling places in St. Albans and Essex and voted 57-40 to become members of UE.
This victory came just a day after workers employed by Choctaw Archiving chose UE by 51 to 31. These are two of eight elections that will take place in the coming weeks among nearly a thousand workers in Vermont and California whose wages and working conditions came under attack when a new federal contractor, Stanley, and its subcontractors took over their workplaces.
Scheduled next is a February 27 vote by Choctaw workers in California. The union is awaiting voting dates for four additional units.
"This is not about the company," said Lisa Stenta, a Grumman employee who has worked at the service center for nine years, surviving three different contractors. "It's not about who the contractor is. It's about us taking charge of our future." She spoke of women forced to work 16-hour shifts with mandatory overtime. "We deserve better than
that. We're dedicated workers." She said past union organizing drives had failed, and nothing changed after the election, so this time workers weren't taking chances. "I feel great" about the outcome, she said.
Kelly Levick is employed by Choctaw Archiving, the group who voted to join UE one day earlier. "I'm very excited aboout our victory and the Northrop victory," she said. Kelly, with eight years on the job, attributes the workers' win to "a lot of hard work. We all pulled together and pulled it off."
Jeremy Murray works directly for Stankey, the lead contractor at the Vermont service center. His bargaining unit of approximately 150 people is still waiting for the NLRB to set their voting date. But the divisions the bosses have set up between employees under the different contractors don't really mean anything to the workers. "It's all about the group -- we all help each other," Jeremy said, and UE supporters are working together to bring everyone into the union. "We don't want to leave anyone behind. This will give us so much strength."
The campaign has been followed closely by the local and this week the local newspaper, the St. Albans Messenger, endorsed the union campaign in an editorial. Earlier, the Vermont Workers' Center has helped coordinate community support, including coordinating a letter signed by over two dozen community leaders, including U.S. Sen.Bernie Sanders, I-VT. [Click here for yesterday's Messenger story, refers to VWC & Hotline]
Five subsequent elections will decide how many additional workers in Vermont and California will be included when UE begins bargaining for improvements in wages and conditions. All the workers performed services for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), which contracts with each employer for data entry and clerical work. Stanley and Associates acts as the lead contractor for the group.
A $2 an hour wage cut imposed by Stanley when it took over operations in early December sparked the organizing drive, bringing workers together to defend their wages as well as sudden cuts in their sick and personal days and vacation time. A top Stanley executive's comment about the cuts was reportedly, "Get Over It!" — a comment which inspired one campaign slogan, "We're UE. GET OVER IT!"
In all, more than 1,000 workers, mostly women, are employed at the two service centers in St. Albans, VT, and Laguna Niguel, CA. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming elections in Vermont and ways to help out.