File spoon-archives/anarchy-list.archive/anarchy-list_2001/anarchy-list.0104, message 230


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:

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.

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