SEIU Janitors, Guards Authorize Strike

[Squid]

Would you want your valuables being guarded and/or cleaned by disgruntled guards and janitors who make low wages and know they are less than 8 days away from becoming un-employeed (w/out Unemployment Checks do to 'voluntary quit').

Both janitors and guards are always prime suspects for any workplace thefts, smart management will try to set them "against" each other or at least have them watch each other. I've been on posts where guards wouldn't snitch on other guards caught sleeping but janitorial would.

Having those two groups aligned against management sounds like recipe for disaster.

I wonder what Guard Company-to-Client contract dates/provisions are VS Union-to-Guard Company contracts.

Most clients are semi-unhappy with their contract and would be fine with a 're-do' just to address various issues.

Management will look at the $30-40/hr they are being charged by Guard/Janitorial Company and throw 1/4 of that to some new-hire entry level junior management eager-beavers and expand their duties a bit.



PS-typically, "labor" wins the first round, then management wins the second. Labor gets fat and happy after first win, while management quietly plots to win the next round "once and for all".

[copelandamuffy]

Are you a member of a labor union, or are you a member of SEIU? Have you ever went on strike?

http://www.startribune.com/local/wes...1.html?refer=y



"It could basically shut down the whole metropolitan area," said security guard Paul Keith, who works at Minneapolis' Retek Building. "They can't operate without us working."



"We're in a serious moment for everyone here," said U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D.-Minn., one of several politicians at Saturday's event. "I'm so proud of you for your courage."
"

Mr.Keith is quite misinformed. Someone should tell Mr. Keith that very few people in the Twin Cities gives a hoot
about him, and whether he is living on starvation wages

Someone as well should tell U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison it is a wee bit early for the 2014 election and to be in bed with the Union vote

[Squid]

big part of "the two Keiths" misconception is American labor law has these amazing restrictions on "the boss" explaining reality to the workers once the whole "union labor dispute" thingy sets up.

Not sure how it works for guards and janitors, but there is some big restriction, backed by HUGE fines and 'sanctions' (totally outside normal court BTW, where any jury would toss it out for being violation of 1st Amend, as well as common sense) if the boss "threatens" to close the plant.

In other words the boss can't explain that if the workers demand $70/hour and competition is able to make same products and only pay $12 he wont stay in biz and plant will close.


So you get these Union members that BY LAW have only heard one side of the story.

Then it is always a "total shock" when the plant moves and goes non-Union.

[copelandamuffy]

big part of "the two Keiths" misconception is American labor law has these amazing restrictions on "the boss" explaining reality to the workers once the whole "union labor dispute" thingy sets up.

Not sure how it works for guards and janitors, but there is some big restriction, backed by HUGE fines and 'sanctions' (totally outside normal court BTW, where any jury would toss it out for being violation of 1st Amend, as well as common sense) if the boss "threatens" to close the plant.

In other words the boss can't explain that if the workers demand $70/hour and competition is able to make same products and only pay $12 he wont stay in biz and plant will close.


So you get these Union members that BY LAW have only heard one side of the story.

Then it is always a "total shock" when the plant moves and goes non-Union.

Yes I agree Squid. Keith and Keith are demanding $14.50 per hour
Keith the Security Guard goes on strike
Keith the Security Guard was offered wages by management of $12.50 per hour
Keith rejects management's offer
Keith is replaced by Mary Lou making $11.00 per hour
FYI: Mary Lou who has been unemployed for six months is most grateful to work at $11.00 per hour

[HotelSecurity]

Yes I agree Squid. Keith and Keith are demanding $14.50 per hour
Keith the Security Guard goes on strike
Keith the Security Guard was offered wages by management of $12.50 per hour
Keith rejects management's offer
Keith is replaced by Mary Lou making $11.00 per hour
FYI: Mary Lou who has been unemployed for six months is most grateful to work at $11.00 per hour

Couldn't happen in Quebec. We have very strong anti-scab laws. Only management working before the striker or lockout are allowed to replace the workers.

Back in the early 80s my hotel went on strike. We management company had 17 hotels in Canada. The company brought in managers from these hotels. Since then the law has been made even stricter. Only managers working at the property can replace the strikers.

[copelandamuffy]

Couldn't happen in Quebec. We have very strong anti-scab laws. Only management working before the striker or lockout are allowed to replace the workers.

Back in the early 80s my hotel went on strike. We management company had 17 hotels in Canada. The company brought in managers from these hotels. Since then the law has been made even stricter. Only managers working at the property can replace the strikers.

HS> I am a fence sitter when it comes to Unions. I was in the United Auto Workers, and United Steel workers for 20 years. I can see some good in Unions. It does put some ruthless bosses in their place.
We never hit the bricks, or went on strike. BUT I knew if we did, my job may very well have ben gone
I chose to walk out. The XYZ umbrella company offered me a 5% pay raise over the next two years
I vote to strike asking for a 8% pay raise. I walk out, Curtis steps in to fill my shoes
Tuff cookies for me

[Jim1348]

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/0...-1-day-strike/

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Twin Cities union for security guards is on a one-day strike Wednesday after an agreement could not be reached with American Security.

One subcontractor did reach an agreement early Wednesday morning after 14 hours of negotiations, but six other employers didn’t agree to the tentative deal. Security guards were out picketing early Wednesday in downtown Minneapolis, one day after retail clears were in the same spot protesting for higher wages and better working conditions.

The security guards are striking in response to what they consider unfair labor practices by their employers. Officials with SEIU Local 26 authorized the strike on Feb. 9 if a deal couldn’t be reached.

The remaining employers – G4S, AlliedBarton, Securitas, Viking Security, ABM Security and Whelan – have yet to reach a reach an agreement with security officers. The members have been working without a contract since Dec. 31.
- See more at: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/0....XdyDACJi.dpuf

[Squid]

Not to get too "political" but I can remember when Unions/Dems were AGAINST the Reagan Amnesty, for obvious reasons, and some maybe not as obvious.

OBVIOUSLY, introducing millions of new competing lower skilled entry level workers all very much looking for their first "in" in USA legit labor market takes away a lot of power from Unions. I can even remember when there was a sort of overall general "fellow American" vibe regarding things like strikes.

Not so obvious is that introducing millions of new poor immigrants puts huge pressure on all the Govt services used by the middle and lower-middle classes.

So why is the SEIU (and other Unions) also all so pro-Amnesty and pro-Immigration today?

Management is telling them they got a pay cut coming, and Union leadership is working overtime to bring in millions of new 'scabs' who are desperate to replace them at 1/2 their current wage.

Yet somehow I don't think any Union leadership is feeling any 'pain' from any of this.