|
ILWU
Victory in Olympia!!
Story
by Paul Bigman
ILWU Puget Sound area organizer
January 18, 2001
On
January 11th, 2001 food service workers employed by Fine Host Corporation at The
Evergreen State College voted by close to a 3-1 majority to join the ILWU. The
workers will be affiliated with Local 47. The vote was 31 for the Union, 12
against and 6 challenged ballots. The challenged ballots were all challenged by
the employer, and presumably were Union supporters. The food service workers
initially held discussions with four different Unions before deciding on joining
the ILWU. Rank-and-file activists helped them in the campaign from ILWU Locals
5, 23 and 47 and from the IBU.
During
the campaign, the workers had substantial support from students, faculty and
staff on the campus. They also began functioning as a Union without waiting for
the NLRB, winning a grievance that resulted in the reinstatement of an unjustly
terminated member.
Statements
of solidarity or support can be sent to ILWU Local 47 President Keith Bausch, or
to ILWU International Organizer Paul Bigman, and will be forwarded to the Fine
Host
Workers.
In
solidarity,
Paul Bigman
|
