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davis_square[from the Somerville progressive announce list]
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 20:09:11 -0500
From: "JK"
Subject: Somerville Theatre Projectionists Win 2 year Contract
YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU ARE ORGANIZED TO TAKE:
'Pissed Off Projectionists' Declare Victory Over Somerville Theatre
After having been locked-out for over ten weeks, projectionists at the Somerville Theatre have emerged victorious in their struggle for union recognition. The management has agreed to voluntarily recognize the union, sign a fair contract, and pay full back wages to all locked-out employees. Although this was a modest struggle in and of itself, we see it as a significant victory for young, exploited and pissed off workers everywhere.
PROJECTIONISTS WIN A LIVING WAGE!
At the time we struck for union recognition, projectionists were paid minimum wage ($6.75/hr), were not offered benefits, and worked in an unhealthy and undemocratic environment. Under the current two-year contract, the starting wage for projectionists is now in accordance with (and fixed to) the
Somerville Living Wage Ordinance (currently $9.55/hr), which is a 40% increase; all full-time employees will be offered health benefits and vacation; and most importantly, the Somerville Theatre is now a 'union shop' for projectionists, which allows for more control over the work environment by the workers themselves and preference for hiring new employees in the hands of the union.
Although this was a clear victory, it was a victory that came at a price. It became clear during the lock-out that the management of the Somerville Theatre did not want some of us to return to work specifically because of our political beliefs. Rather than further stall the contract negotiations, we agreed to voluntarily step aside and be replaced by other union projectionists in order to ensure a speedy resolution that would benefit all. In exchange we will have the opportunity to work in other Boston-area theaters where projectionists are organized through IATSE.
DIRECT ACTION GETS THE GOODS!
We hope that our struggle is an inspiration to other workers, particularly younger workers just beginning to understand their exploitation at the hands of their bosses. Our struggle was won primarily through direct action and community pressure. Although we did indeed file for an election with the National Labor Relations Board, from the beginning of our campaign we had no faith in State-mediation. We felt that the whole NLRB process played into the hands of the bosses and government bureaucrats, and effectively removed the class struggle from off the streets and out of the hands of the workers and confined it to the court rooms of the State.
In the end it was not through the NLRB that we gained union recognition, but through a sustained campaign of public pressure and direct action. We were successful in utilizing tactics and strategies such as economic strikes, informational pickets, and publicity campaigns while simultaneously relying on the pressure from the community (in the form of boycotts, rallies, and phone actions) to win this struggle. We think we were successful in proving that, as workers, our greatest strengths are in the refusal of our labor and our ability to organize effective resistance that goes beyond the workplace and into the community.
ANARCHISTS IN THE WORKPLACE?
Absolutely! Through out the dispute at the Somerville Theatre, there have been attempts by Mel?s lawyer to 'red bait' certain projectionists by publicizing the fact that some of us are anarchists. Well, as one trade unionist who walked our picket line a few times eloquently stated: "Every workplace could use a few anarchists to ensure the boss takes a good ass-kicking every now and then." We couldn't agree more. Politics aside, the fact of the matter was that we were being exploited by a wealthy boss, and no amount of 'red baiting' changed this fact in most people's eyes. As for the actual politics in question, those of us who do identify as anarchists have been up front about it and have no problem defending out beliefs. We would like to see a society in which the needs of people are valued over profits, and exploitative bosses are a thing of the past. However, we are not hopeless dreamers. We recognize we are a far way off from this sort of society, and in the meantime we need build power in our communities and workplaces and work towards class victories
that directly benefit people's lives.
THANKS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS
One of the most inspiring aspects of this struggle has been the wide support we have received from trade unionists, activist groups and members of the surrounding community. Thanks to fellow unionists from SEIU, UE, CWA, IBEW, IWW, AFA, AFSCME, Teamsters, Greater Boston Central Labor Council, and our own union IATSE; also activist groups such as NEFAC, BAAM!, Jobs With Justice, Somerville Greens, and the Student Labor Action Project; and lastly, a very special thanks goes out to all the Somerville residents who supported us, everyone who made a phone call (or ten) on our behalf, and anyone else who may have helped our campaign that we forgot to mention.
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES...
The struggle at the Somerville Theatre may have come to a close, but there are other labor disputes heating up around the city. At this moment, the union contracts covering thousands of Boston-area workers at Verizon are set to expire. Up to this point negotiations have been unsuccessful and the possibility for an East Coast strike is very likely. We hope that everyone who has supported us though out our struggle will also support this important strike if it does occur, and defend workers' right to job security and health benefits. Further information on the impending Verizon strike can be found at: www.massjwj.net.
Solidarity is our greatest weapon for a better future!
In Struggle, Pissed Off Projectionists
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 20:09:11 -0500
From: "JK"
Subject: Somerville Theatre Projectionists Win 2 year Contract
YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU ARE ORGANIZED TO TAKE:
'Pissed Off Projectionists' Declare Victory Over Somerville Theatre
After having been locked-out for over ten weeks, projectionists at the Somerville Theatre have emerged victorious in their struggle for union recognition. The management has agreed to voluntarily recognize the union, sign a fair contract, and pay full back wages to all locked-out employees. Although this was a modest struggle in and of itself, we see it as a significant victory for young, exploited and pissed off workers everywhere.
PROJECTIONISTS WIN A LIVING WAGE!
At the time we struck for union recognition, projectionists were paid minimum wage ($6.75/hr), were not offered benefits, and worked in an unhealthy and undemocratic environment. Under the current two-year contract, the starting wage for projectionists is now in accordance with (and fixed to) the
Somerville Living Wage Ordinance (currently $9.55/hr), which is a 40% increase; all full-time employees will be offered health benefits and vacation; and most importantly, the Somerville Theatre is now a 'union shop' for projectionists, which allows for more control over the work environment by the workers themselves and preference for hiring new employees in the hands of the union.
Although this was a clear victory, it was a victory that came at a price. It became clear during the lock-out that the management of the Somerville Theatre did not want some of us to return to work specifically because of our political beliefs. Rather than further stall the contract negotiations, we agreed to voluntarily step aside and be replaced by other union projectionists in order to ensure a speedy resolution that would benefit all. In exchange we will have the opportunity to work in other Boston-area theaters where projectionists are organized through IATSE.
DIRECT ACTION GETS THE GOODS!
We hope that our struggle is an inspiration to other workers, particularly younger workers just beginning to understand their exploitation at the hands of their bosses. Our struggle was won primarily through direct action and community pressure. Although we did indeed file for an election with the National Labor Relations Board, from the beginning of our campaign we had no faith in State-mediation. We felt that the whole NLRB process played into the hands of the bosses and government bureaucrats, and effectively removed the class struggle from off the streets and out of the hands of the workers and confined it to the court rooms of the State.
In the end it was not through the NLRB that we gained union recognition, but through a sustained campaign of public pressure and direct action. We were successful in utilizing tactics and strategies such as economic strikes, informational pickets, and publicity campaigns while simultaneously relying on the pressure from the community (in the form of boycotts, rallies, and phone actions) to win this struggle. We think we were successful in proving that, as workers, our greatest strengths are in the refusal of our labor and our ability to organize effective resistance that goes beyond the workplace and into the community.
ANARCHISTS IN THE WORKPLACE?
Absolutely! Through out the dispute at the Somerville Theatre, there have been attempts by Mel?s lawyer to 'red bait' certain projectionists by publicizing the fact that some of us are anarchists. Well, as one trade unionist who walked our picket line a few times eloquently stated: "Every workplace could use a few anarchists to ensure the boss takes a good ass-kicking every now and then." We couldn't agree more. Politics aside, the fact of the matter was that we were being exploited by a wealthy boss, and no amount of 'red baiting' changed this fact in most people's eyes. As for the actual politics in question, those of us who do identify as anarchists have been up front about it and have no problem defending out beliefs. We would like to see a society in which the needs of people are valued over profits, and exploitative bosses are a thing of the past. However, we are not hopeless dreamers. We recognize we are a far way off from this sort of society, and in the meantime we need build power in our communities and workplaces and work towards class victories
that directly benefit people's lives.
THANKS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS
One of the most inspiring aspects of this struggle has been the wide support we have received from trade unionists, activist groups and members of the surrounding community. Thanks to fellow unionists from SEIU, UE, CWA, IBEW, IWW, AFA, AFSCME, Teamsters, Greater Boston Central Labor Council, and our own union IATSE; also activist groups such as NEFAC, BAAM!, Jobs With Justice, Somerville Greens, and the Student Labor Action Project; and lastly, a very special thanks goes out to all the Somerville residents who supported us, everyone who made a phone call (or ten) on our behalf, and anyone else who may have helped our campaign that we forgot to mention.
THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES...
The struggle at the Somerville Theatre may have come to a close, but there are other labor disputes heating up around the city. At this moment, the union contracts covering thousands of Boston-area workers at Verizon are set to expire. Up to this point negotiations have been unsuccessful and the possibility for an East Coast strike is very likely. We hope that everyone who has supported us though out our struggle will also support this important strike if it does occur, and defend workers' right to job security and health benefits. Further information on the impending Verizon strike can be found at: www.massjwj.net.
Solidarity is our greatest weapon for a better future!
In Struggle, Pissed Off Projectionists
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no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 08:38 am (UTC)I feel like if they had just followed due process, and hadn't striked unless the NLRB thing failed, then they would have had their union a *lot* sooner, and with much less vandalism around davis square and at the theatre, with fewer people injured in the midst of an illegal picketing, and less inconvenience to 3rd parties such as the IFF. Not to mention how much money the theatre probably lost, or how much money the striking workers probably lost!
I feel like they jumped right into the whole activism gamut because they wanted the attention, they wanted to feel like they were being revolutionaries or some crap. And they ended up screwing themselves over by being locked out and stuck in legal battles, and causing the community a lot of inconvenience due to their "direct action."
I mean, they basically say this outright: "We felt that the whole NLRB process played into the hands of the bosses and government bureaucrats, and effectively removed the class struggle from off the streets and out of the hands of the workers and confined it to the court rooms of the State."
There are VERY OLD LAWS THAT PROTECT UNION RIGHTS and they're just ignoring them, as if "keeping it on the street" is somehow better. I really don't understand this reasoning. The laws were put in place so that unions could do their thing *without* screwing over businesses, *without* getting screwed over themselves, and *without* violent conflict. Ie -- *without* it having to be held "on the streets."
One could provide some evidence that perhaps the NLRB process wouldn't have worked -- the fact that the management was very opposed to unionization from the beginning, the fact that they tried to let assistant managers and replacement employees in on the NLRB vote, etc.
However, 1) if the NLRB vote was successful, the management would have been required to recognize the union, no matter how opposed they were, 2) the NLRB ruled in the projectionists favor and didn't allow assistant managers in on the vote (so much for the NLRB playing into the hands of bosses), 3) there wouldn't be any replacement employees to muck up the vote if there hadn't been a strike, and 4) even with all the above, they still went on strike *before* even seeing if the NLRB process was going to work or not.
Sigh. I guess my point is, activism has its place, but I didn't think it belonged here. There is plenty of well-established law that the projectionists could have used to get their union. But instead they went all "viva la revolution" on us and we got a big mess as the result.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 09:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 09:53 am (UTC)Wow. I thought the tone of that anouncement was in poor form before, but now... Jerks.
I did some fuzzy math and came up with a figure of over 10k a month more in cost due to the increased cost of projection. I have no idea what Somerville Theatre pull in on a monthly basis, but I'm sure a 10k hit will hurt.
There's a time for "viva la revolution!" and this was not it. It's sad, but I look forward to the new Applebees or Olive Garden in Davis Square.
-ia.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 09:59 am (UTC)I'm thinking it's business as usual.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 01:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 09:56 am (UTC)I don't contest the rest of your points, though.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 10:27 am (UTC)I am not in favor of destruction of property, and if i were the projectionists, I'd have discouraged and denounced the window-smashings. But most union struggles that get anywhere these days get there a lot faster if they are able to use community pressure and organizing power to bypass the NLRB.
Why did it have to come to this?
Date: 2003-07-30 10:30 am (UTC)Re: Why did it have to come to this?
Date: 2003-07-30 10:34 am (UTC)Re: Why did it have to come to this?
Date: 2003-07-30 12:24 pm (UTC)Re: Why did it have to come to this?
Date: 2003-07-30 07:41 pm (UTC)Exactly. It's not as though the "pissed-off projectionists" can blame Somerville Theatre management for the fact that every lamppost and streetsign within five blocks of Davis Square has one to five "Boycott Somerville Theatre" stickers on it.
If the "pissed-off projectionists" were to behave like grownups instead of kids throwing a tantrum, they would spend as much time cleaning up their mess as they spent making it.
Oink oink, flap flap.