From: "David Swanson" <acornnews-AT-acorn.org> Subject: ACORN and IWW Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2001 17:53:20 -0400 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. MEDIA RELEASE 24 April 2001 David Swanson, communications coordinator ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now 739 8th Street SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-2500 p (202) 546-2483 f acornnews-AT-acorn.org www.acorn.org To subscribe to ACORN's Email list send an Email with only the words "subscribe acornupdates" in the body of the message to majordomo-AT-Acorn.org. ACORN Offers the IWW a Labor Peace Agreement Over the last several months an issue has been raised by the IWW concerning ACORN's position on unionization of its organizing staff. ACORN is a national, membership organization of over 100,000 low- and moderate-income families. ACORN's National Board meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, on April 22, 2001, discussed the matter and approved the following offer to the IWW of a national labor peace agreement, which would be a model for labor/management cooperation in union organizing. As Maude Hurd, President of the ACORN Board indicated in a statement, "ACORN has been a partner, ally, and friend of the labor movement and of individual unions for 31 years. We believe our staff should have the right to voluntarily organize a union if they so choose. As a national organization our only concerns have been our interest in one national bargaining unit for all of our staff, if they seek a union, and that there be no supervisory domination of the bargaining unit. We invite the IWW -- or any other labor union -- to approach our staff members and seek their support. As the employer, we will maintain strict neutrality and will bargain in good faith with any union supported by a majority of our organizers." The actual offer is detailed below as it was transmitted to the IWW representatives and their attorneys: Here are the elements of ACORN's offer to resolve all outstanding differences with the IWW and bring these matters to an effective resolution for the free expression and self-organization of the ACORN organizing staff. ACORN would enter into a labor peace agreement with the IWW to create a situation guaranteeing employer neutrality and card check recognition. ACORN would provide the IWW with an employee list including all information provided by the employee: name, address, phone, e-mail and so forth to facilitate IWW communication with the eligible bargaining unit. ACORN would provide the IWW with the means to communicate via email to postings through the ACORN conferences to the potential bargaining unit. Any allegations of misconduct under the agreement or as defined in the Act would be resolved through an expedited process mediated by Steve Williamson, President of the King County AFL-CIO, or if Brother Williamson were unavailable by some other mutually acceptable party. Any allegations or disputes over the intent and language of the labor peace agreement would be resolved by expedited arbitration from a list of mutually agreed arbitrators. ACORN's position would be one of strict neutrality. ACORN has always supported unionization, and does not oppose unionization of its organizing staff in an appropriate unit. The bargaining unit would be a national unit of the entire organizing staff of ACORN. ACORN is a national corporation with centralized administration, accounting, legal, payroll, audit and so forth. There is one personnel manual for all staff. There is one pay scale for all staff nationally. The national bylaws determine the unitary nature of staff coordination and direction as well as 31 years of organizational history. [As a concession to the IWW, ACORN would allow lead organizers in the bargaining unit though we have contended that these positions are section 211 supervisors.] Any card check will be done by a 3rd party, mutually agreed, and certified. Achievement of a majority against the list, will trigger collective bargaining negotiations immediately. Failure to achieve a majority will lead to a 1-year bar before initiating the labor peace agreement again. The IWW would have three (3) months from May 1 through July 31st to enjoy this access. All outstanding charges in any venue before the NLRB filed by any party to this agreement will be withdrawn. All Seattle organizing staff will be reinstated and made whole as appropriate in the IWW's earlier letter. ACORN and IWW would agree to a joint statement on this resolution that is mutually agreeable. David Swanson, communications coordinator ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now 739 8th Street SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-2500 p (202) 546-2483 f acornnews-AT-acorn.org www.acorn.org To subscribe to ACORN's Email list send an Email with only the words "subscribe acornupdates" in the body of the message to majordomo-AT-Acorn.org.
HTML VERSION:
24 April 2001
David
Swanson, communications coordinator
ACORN, the Association of Community
Organizations for Reform Now
739 8th Street SE
Washington, DC
20003
(202) 547-2500 p
(202) 546-2483 f
acornnews-AT-acorn.org
www.acorn.org
To subscribe to ACORN's Email
list send an Email with only the words "subscribe acornupdates" in the body of
the message to majordomo-AT-Acorn.org.
ACORN Offers the IWW a Labor Peace Agreement
Over the last several months an issue has been raised by the IWW concerning ACORN's position on unionization of its organizing staff. ACORN is a national, membership organization of over 100,000 low- and moderate-income families. ACORN's National Board meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, on April 22, 2001, discussed the matter and approved the following offer to the IWW of a national labor peace agreement, which would be a model for labor/management cooperation in union organizing.
As Maude Hurd, President of the ACORN Board indicated in a
statement, "ACORN has been a partner, ally, and friend of the labor movement and
of individual unions for 31 years. We believe our staff should have the right to
voluntarily organize a union if they so choose. As a national organization our
only concerns have been our interest in one national bargaining unit for all of
our staff, if they seek a union, and that there be no supervisory domination of
the bargaining unit. We invite the IWW -- or any other labor union -- to
approach our staff members and seek their support. As the employer, we will
maintain strict neutrality and will bargain in good faith with any union
supported by a majority of our organizers."
The actual offer is detailed
below as it was transmitted to the IWW representatives and their
attorneys:
Here are the elements of ACORN's offer to resolve all
outstanding differences with the IWW and bring these matters to an effective
resolution for the free expression and self-organization of the ACORN organizing
staff.
ACORN would enter into a labor peace agreement with the IWW
to create a situation guaranteeing employer neutrality and card check
recognition.
ACORN would provide the IWW with an employee list including all
information provided by the employee: name, address, phone, e-mail and so forth
to facilitate IWW communication with the eligible bargaining unit.
ACORN
would provide the IWW with the means to communicate via email to postings
through the ACORN conferences to the potential bargaining unit.
Any
allegations of misconduct under the agreement or as defined in the Act would be
resolved through an expedited process mediated by Steve Williamson, President of
the King County AFL-CIO, or if Brother Williamson were unavailable by some other
mutually acceptable party.
Any allegations or disputes over the intent and
language of the labor peace agreement would be resolved by expedited arbitration
from a list of mutually agreed arbitrators.
ACORN's position would be one of
strict neutrality. ACORN has always supported unionization, and does not oppose
unionization of its organizing staff in an appropriate unit.
The bargaining
unit would be a national unit of the entire organizing staff of ACORN. ACORN is
a national corporation with centralized administration, accounting, legal,
payroll, audit and so forth. There is one personnel manual for all staff. There
is one pay scale for all staff nationally. The national bylaws determine the
unitary nature of staff coordination and direction as well as 31 years of
organizational history. [As a concession to the IWW, ACORN would allow lead
organizers in the bargaining unit though we have contended that these positions
are section 211 supervisors.]
Any card check will be done by a 3rd party,
mutually agreed, and certified. Achievement of a majority against the list, will
trigger collective bargaining negotiations immediately. Failure to achieve a
majority will lead to a 1-year bar before initiating the labor peace agreement
again.
The IWW would have three (3) months from May 1 through July 31st to
enjoy this access.
All outstanding charges in any venue before the NLRB
filed by any party to this agreement will be withdrawn.
All Seattle
organizing staff will be reinstated and made whole as appropriate in the IWW's
earlier letter.
ACORN and IWW would agree to a joint statement on this
resolution that is mutually agreeable.
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