The saga continues, as New York City Marriott officials are facing additional federal charges for trying to force workers to accept local union officials' unwanted "representation" and with it, the obligation of forced dues payments.
Last month, a group of SoHo Marriott workers targeted in a vicious campaign of intimidation and harassment by union organizers and company officials filed federal charges against Marriott and the union with free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation.
New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council Local 6 union organizers entered into a backroom deal (called a "neutrality agreement") with company officials. Of course, there is nothing "neutral" about the agreement, which allows union organizers unfettered access to the employees in order to install a union in the workplace while workers who wish to refrain from union affiliation are silenced with threats and punishment.
For example, Marriott worker Coralina Alcantara (who filed the latest around of charges against Marriott last week) and many of her colleagues are prohibited from meeting in the employee break room. Meanwhile, the company's lawyer has been interrogating Coralina and her colleagues and threatening them for wishing to remain free from union boss shackles.
It should come to no surprise that the workers are now unanimously opposed to the union officials' presence in the workplace. The same union officials have used video cameras in employee changing rooms, accessed employee lockers, handled employees' personal possessions, and resorted to verbal abuse against workers. One union official even took photographs of a female employee without her consent while she was changing her uniform in an employee changing room. As reported in the New York Post last month:
Workers at a downtown hotel charge that union goons resorted to outrageous tactics to browbeat them into joining their ranks — going so far as to photograph a female staffer as she changed clothes in an employee locker room, apparently to blackmail her.
"I was wearing my uniform pants and my bra and holding my shirt to put it on when they started snapping pictures," front-desk worker Gisel Rodriguez, 28, recalled of the alleged sneak attack at the SoHo Courtyard Marriott in December.
"I was furious, really didn't know what to do," she said. "They said, 'We're allowed to be here,' and clicked away."
Rodriguez said she believes the union reps wanted to use the photos "as blackmail, to get us to sign."
Comments
Troy Bankruptcy Lawyer
I remember this situation happening a lot in Las Vegas, didn't know it was very prevalent else where.
Troy Bankruptcy Lawyer
Backwards?
Hmm...organizers get cards signed and then go to the employer and show there is a majority of employees who want representation. Then it is the companies ability to accept the CBA or go to an election.
Blackmail-LMAO
That was a good laugh. They wanted to blackmail her into signing. HMM...if the company signs an agreement with the union, her signature is NOT needed for anyting, so blackmail I think not. Again just because some newspaper reports the allegations doesn't mean they have value. Newspapers cover all kinds of stories, that have proof. They know true or not the headlines will sell. Money, makes the world go round. My guess these are fake allegations and someone is looking for a handout.
Union abuse
Blackmail- LMAO...You are correct. It is about money and who has their hand out. Its the Union, don't you get it? Or are you one of them, on the dole from hard working employees? Unions have gotten smaller and smaller, as they choke off commerce with expenses that cannot be maintained over time. Legacy costs that are ridiculous. Costs of goods that are out of control because unions extort money from entrepreneurs. How about you have a good idea, and take it to market. Once you put a little skin in the game, you will not be so happy to see people JUST LIKE YOU with a hand out like a homeless person. America's own word for "acceptable" Socialism is still the word "Union".
Skin in the game?
I don't work in a market that sells idea's. I work with my hands to ensure people JUST LIKE YOU can sit at their desk or sleep at night. Without workers like me, people like you would be homeless. Let see you work 10-12 hour days in 165 degree heat, but YOU must do it for low wages and no benefits, after all you believe in slave labor. Remember this genius, even if you have a miracle idea it does little good when no one can afford it.
Skin in the game
Well loks like another union lacky i work in a non union shop and am proud of it i make good money i buy my benies and still have plenty of money left over and i work 12 hour days lifiting any were for 14-140 pound hydrlic cylinders all day and my company pays me good cause i work hard and do a good job. Thoes who prefer to pay to keep a job LIKE YOU who dosent work hard. i know this Beacuse ive worked in a union shop and most of you bums just stand around a bitch and complain about working while collecting a pay check you union militant scum sicken me grow up and stop fucking complaining about bad conditions i work in them too and i will NEVER JOIN A UNION.
Retired?
How many people do you know that have retired from your company, and are still able to live comfortable w/o acquiring another job to pay bills? I personally know over 20 guys that are retired and enjoying fishing, hunting, and spending time with their family. One other thing roofing is not EASY in any manner. To claim I work less because I'm union only shows you ignorance. Due to my higher wages I have to produce more since I make twice as much as the non-union guy. I think this is why some people avoid unions, their afraid to WORK hard.
Pay to keep job
I don't pay to keep a job. I pay dues to keep my pension, health care, retirees, and apprenticeship going. My boss was able to roof many places w/o bid competition due to my excellent work, the end-user was impressed enough to hire our company on the spot. NO I don't pay to keep my job, my boss pays me FAIR wages to make him MILLIONS. I can understand you not wanting to join a union, most of them require some type of High School Diploma. Seeing your spelling, punctuation, and lame profanity I can tell your intelligence ranks with Jr. High kids. Good thing your willing to work 12 hr days, otherwise you probably wouldn't have a job. I'm sorry your fine with working in bad conditions, but roofing in bad conditions can cost you your life.
Blackmail, yes.
So what would you call taking pictures of a non-consenting woman who is exercising her right to change clothes, expecting the normal privacy allowed such an act? How about sexual harrassment? If I were she, I would file sexual harrassment charges against the person who took the pictures. Just because the union thug has "the right to be there" does not give them the right to take unpermitted pictures of a non-consenting individual in a private place. File charges, have the person arrested, testify at trial and then sue the person individually for massive damages.
Rogue operators?
I can see your point, the people who did this should be penalized legally, but it still does not explain to me why they would go through the trouble of taking these risks on their own- without some knowledge or much more likely, encouragement by the union..
Agree completely
I agree completely. If this is TRUE than that person should be arrested or sued. If this was done on union time then that person should be fired or released. I would consider this to be a personal issue if it is TRUE, and not the "UNIONS" fault. What I consider sad is the organization that malest little boys is still allowed to operate and recieve more contributions to pay off families and move priest away.
LMOA you are wrong
The neutrality agreement simply means the employer will accept cards as votes. The union still needs her signature.
No signature
I was saying they don't need her signature if the company wants the union. She would have no say in this situation.