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 ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com.
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