File spoon-archives/anarchy-list.archive/anarchy-list_2000/anarchy-list.0002, message 403


Date: 20 Feb 00 18:39:17 PST
From: Action Jackson <unionyesman-AT-netscape.net>
Subject: Censorship in King County


KING COUNTY ATTEMPTS TO CENSOR UNION

Stunned and stung by the global criticism of their union busting campaign,
King County filed legal papers with the Public Employment Relations Commission
on February 18th seeking a gag order to silence criticism of the County by the
International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers Local 17.

"The very fact that they would try to get such a gag order illustrates the
effectiveness of our grassroots campaign" said Union Representative Ray
Goforth.  "With this action the employer's arrogance and contempt for the
democratic process has been laid bare before the world."

This act of attempted censorship is the latest chapter in a bitter
union-busting campaign conducted by the King County Department of Development
& Environmental Services.

ANTI-UNION CAMPAIGN:

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act allows an employer to request medical
certification forms from disabled employees.  The Act provides that employees
have a minimum of 15 days to comply with the request.  After three incidents
where International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local
17 shop stewards were given less than the required 15 days, the Union
performed a records search.  That search proved that all of the FMLA medical
certification requests issued by Manager Lynn Baugh targeted Shop Stewards
with deadlines that violated federal law while rank-and-file employees were
given the required 15 days, a longer deadline, or no deadline at all.

After one of the incidents noted above, Union Representative Ray Goforth
called to request documents needed to advise and defend Shop Steward Sheri
McKee against threatened discipline.  Management refused to timely respond to
the inquiry because Manager Lynn Baugh took offense at the "tone of voice"
used by the Union Representative.

After refusing orders from his manager to bypass environmental regulations
that he is charged with enforcing, supervisor Jeff O'Neill was told that
management would find someone more compliant to assume his duties.  Shortly
thereafter Jeff's position was "reorganized" to reduce his power.  Other
duties were also stripped from him.  Jeff is one of the few supervisors at
DDES who is a union member.  Management has made it clear to him that his life
would be easier if he was not in the Union.

Ken Grubbs is a shop steward, negotiating team member and former chapter
vice-president.  Two days after Ken testified before the King County Council
about problems at DDES, he was notified that his automobile allowance was
being terminated.  A check of the records uncovered an e-mail proving that
DDES management had contacted Ken's insurance company providing information
they believed would increase Ken's insurance rates.

When the Union learned that some of its members were to be ordered to work on
a hazardous waste site (this not being part of their job), the Union demanded
to bargain the effects of this change.  DDES management acknowledged their
legal duty to engage in these negotiations but have refused to sit down for
negotiations for the past 8 months.

WHAT TO DO:

IFPTE Local 17 is calling upon all supporters of the social justice and labor
movements to help end this union-busting campaign.  Please send polite e-mails
to the following individuals requesting that they STOP THE CENSORSHIP, STOP
THE UNION-BUSTING AT DDES.

King County Executive Ron Sims    ron.sims-AT-metrokc.gov

DDES Director Greg Kipp      greg.kipp-AT-metrokc.gov

Please CC your e-mails to: goforth-AT-ifpte17.org AND kent.pullen-AT-metrokc.gov

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