Union uses $ 10/hr homeless day laborers to staff the picketlines

[Omaha Steve]

http://gangbox.wordpress.com/2009/03/21/tulsa-oklahoma-carpenters-local-943-has-been-picketing-scab-drywall-contractor-green-county-interiors-for-over-2-yearsunion-uses-10hr-homeless-day-laborers-to-staff-the-picketlines/


from the TULSA WORLD:

By OMER GILLHAM World Staff Writer
Published: 3/21/2009 2:20 AM

Union uses homeless for protests
Carpenters are waging a “shame” campaign against nonunion shop.


A group of people, including Charles Williams of Tulsa, protests Friday. A carpenters union has paid homeless people to picket a nonunion contractor. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

The carpenters union has hired dozens of homeless people to stand in for union members to wage a “shame” campaign against a nonunion contractor, a Tulsa World investigation shows.

The Local 943 Carpenters Union has organized a 2-year effort to coerce Green Country Interiors Inc. to pay union wages and benefits to its construction workers, said David Hannagan, president and part owner of Green Country.

Beginning in April 2007, the carpenters union began placing personnel and large banners at businesses that had hired Green Country for construction work. At the first site, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 E. Second St., the banner states: “Shame on Crowne Plaza” and “Labor Dispute.”

“I guess they want to impugn my reputation to force us into signing a union contract, and I am not going to do that,” Hannagan said. “We pay wages and benefits that are comparable with or above area standards. The personal attacks are over the top.”



Hannagan said the union recently stepped up its efforts by placing a banner at his neighborhood entrance on 61st Street in south Tulsa. The banner states: “Shame on David Hannagan.”

The banners and handbills represent a public-awareness campaign, which is allowed by the National Labor Relations Act, said union attorney Jay Youngdahl.

FULL story at link.

[Donnachaidh]

1. Great! Contractors and construction companies DESERVE to be picketed

I hope this spreads throughout the country. :thumbsup:

[Thothmes]

2. Seems to me that using non-union personnel

to man a union picket line is sorta like using scabs isnt it? What is wrong with the Union paying Union members to man the picket line.