Labor dispute at One Davis Sq construction site?

[ron_newman]

If you walk up Day Street towards the square, the chain-link gate blocking the left sidewalk bears a sign declaring that it is the "Non-Picketed Gate", and that employees of DFM, Inc. may not use it.

On the Dover Street sidewalk, a similar gate has a sign saying it is the "Picketed Gate" and that it IS for use by DFM, Inc.; all others may go to the Non-Picketed Gate. This morning it looked like someone was indeed setting up a picket line next to the Picketed Gate.

Anyone know what this is all about?

Comments

[xuth.livejournal.com]

I can't speak to the company itself, but I did see 5 or 6 guys with "on strike" signs when I biked my son to school this morning. So yes there is some form of picket going on.
It's kind of absurd that they're relegated to a single gate. They've a right to protest on any public sidewalk they like. But it is an interesting compromise if all sides agree to it.

[gildersleeve.livejournal.com]

Perhaps they chose/are relegated to the one spot because they are not picketing the entire site/project/contractor, but just one facet of it, like a subcontractor or something.

[twe.livejournal.com]

That was my guess.

(Depending on where it's located, it may also be an attempt to minimize the impact on traffic in the square.)

There's an article up at the Somerville Journal

[matthew miller (from livejournal.com)]

There's a brief article up at the Somerville Journal:

http://www.townonline.com/somerville/homepage/8998986308370038783

Looks like XYZ is DFM. (This comment will make no sense once Ron edits the entry. Oh well.)

[xuth.livejournal.com]

typically the striking organization also has an interest in trying make their complaints public, so the fact that the picketers were willing to relegate themselves to a back corner away from the square is interesting.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

So, as I read the article, the picket is just an advertisement for a union. What an advertisement. Makes me want to work in a unionized environment so that I too can go where I'm not wanted and carry signs advertising for my union.

[ron_newman]

They could not picket in front of the building without obstructing both wheeled and pedestrian traffic. I think the police would put a quick stop to that if they tried. And there are no sidewalks on the right or left sides, since both are blocked off for the construction.

[gildersleeve.livejournal.com]

It does seem to be more of a recruitment thing than a protest, so in that regards it is well suited to a side street with little traffic; the workers see it, but it does not disrupt business in the square.

[xuth.livejournal.com]

There is a cordonned walkway in the front and it would be legal for them to picket there. I believe they'd be required to keep moving (which is why you'll often find picketers walking in big circles). On the other, as mentioned in a comment further down, this is just an advertisement and I don't think the current population of Davis Square would be overly receptive to those ads.

[ron_newman]

That walkway is barely wide enough for two people to pass each other in opposite directions. I'm very glad nobody is picketing in there.

[cleanup-davissq.livejournal.com]

Maybe they don't want a CVS either!!

Back To The Beginning

[babstaah.livejournal.com]

and the question is/was, why is there a strike?

Re: Back To The Beginning

[gildersleeve.livejournal.com]

There is not a strike; this would appear to be what is referred to as an 'informational picket' where a union is communicating with non-union workers to encourage them to join the union. The picketers do not work at the site.

[mattlistener.livejournal.com]

That's really confusing and, frankly, rather creepy.

[mrf-arch.livejournal.com]

It's fairly standard around here, for the unions to picket sites where open-shop jobs are underway in hopes of convincing the open-shop employees to join the union. The level of convincing tends to vary by how good or bad the economy is at the time.