This entry was posted on 4/28/2006 4:17 PM and is filed under The Right to Organize.
(Originally submitted by DanRottenstreich UNITE HERE)
On Tuesday, April 25th cafeteria workers at Molloy College caused a stir in Rockville Centre's usually quiet streets. Over fifty workers came together to demand dignity and respect from their employer, Lackmann Culinary Services. The workers sent a message to Molloy and Lackmann to 'HONOR HARD WORK'.
More than two months ago the workers asked for the right to join UNITEHERE Local 100. BUT LACKMANN SAID NO! And Molloy College, which uses Lackmann to run its cafeterias, has refused to support the workers! Why should these workers be forced to struggle to make ends meet? Lackmann is a multi-million dollar corporation with operations all over the east coast. And Molloy College is planning a $20 million expansion! The cafeteria workers at Molloy take home less than $400 a week, cannot afford medical care, and have no voice at work. And Lackmann forces hundreds more workers from all over Long Island to struggle in similar conditions.
But it doesnt have to be that way. Union cafeteria workers in UNITE HERE Local 100 earn decent wages, enjoy fully paid family health insurance, and have a pension plan. And unwavering workers at Molloy show us that we can transform low-wage cafeteria jobs all over Long Island into decent middle-class jobs. On Tuesday the workers were joined by brothers and sisters from SEIU 32BJ, LI Jobs with Justice, and Father Henry Benack. Neighborhood residents expressed their support by wearing 'HONOR HARD WORK' stickers, offering the workers gathering space on their lawns, and spreading the word in their community.
5/30/2006 4:50 PM
LaborBeat wrote:
The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) had a press conference outside of Huntington Town Hall to protest apprenticeship programs and unions. Some of you may have seen a picture of Alan Binder and a blow up orange cat in Newsday or the L.I. Business News. ABC hates unions, they are made up of small corner cutting contractors who are frustrated that they cant make millions on big jobs because they are neither equipped, educated or licensed to do so. Most legit contractors are approved by the NYS DOL, certified by OSHA. They pay their sales tax, they tax their labor, license themselves and their workers, they protect their workers safety on job sites and usually they know their employees by name. Legit good contractors close shop on the weekends, they work hard during the week, they keep their job sites clean and in order and they build Long Island safe. Basically, they build better, they build safer, and they build union. Good employers who play by the rules and do the right things should get public contracts. No matter what the size. And why not? I wouldn't want my child stepping foot in a school or my grandmother getting care in a Nursing Home whose electrical wiring was constricted by an unlicensed handy man. Its not safe, and its not right.
ABC (the unlicensed hany man) is frustrated that they can't compete with legit contractors. But I know a way they can compete! Instead of spending thousands on hiring a worker-hating failed political figure to do their public moaning and press releases, maybe the handy men should spend a couple of bucks on getting a NYS Approved Apprenticeship Program. Maybe pay their workers a living wage....and here's a stretch; Give your workers a weekend off and some safety training. ABC values its workers no greater than their shovels, their bobcats or their paint thinners. Workers to ABC contractors are tools. No better, no less.
ABC is a stain on our Society. They are an enemy to all that society has worker and sometimes died for. We should all be grateful that the bulk of their political and social support stems form a lousy press hit on Newsday's page A45. If they want a Newsday photo, fine! But stay the hell out of my kids school and my grandmothers nursing home! Reply to this
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