Thanks, Federal Government

THE NLRB HAS SPOKEN!!!

The National Labor Relations Board has issued a decision that states that the Pennsylvania Joint Board is the collective bargaining agent of the workers in Local 57.

In the ruling, they also stated that not only is the PAJB the collective bargaining agent, but they have been since the Unite and HERE merger.

"About November 29, 2005, Local 57 affiliated with the Pennsylvania Joint Board ("PAJB"), which had been part of the prior UNITE organizational structure. Section 1 of the affiliation agreement states that the PAJB's constitution shall prevail over Local 57s bylaws in the event of a conflict" -NLRB

Some other fun quotes from the memo:

"Local 57 president Edward Nassan and vice president Darrel Brown became full time paid employees of the PAJB. In early 2006, Nassan's duties were extended beyond Local 57, and he was involved in a reorganization between the PAJB and the Mid-Atlantic Joint Board. After the affiliation, all of the representational functions formerly performed by Local 57 officers and staff were now performed by Joint Board officials and staff..."

"After the affiliation, grievances were handled by the shop steward or the PAJB business agent. Local 57 officers played no role in handling grievances in their capacity as Local 57 officers..."

"On June 30, 2009, the Employer (Omni Hotel) met with PAJB officials Williamson and Melman, who requested recognition and access based on continuity of representation, and also requested that the Employer consider a letter of indemnification regarding dues. The Employer attempted to arrange a similar meeting with Local 57 President Furlong and UNITE HERE organizer Mackenzie Smith, who had arrived from Boston after the disaffiliation. However, Furlong never responded, and Smith insisted that the Employer meet with a five-member committee rather than two representatives..."

It goes on and on (20 pages to be exact), but the message is clear: The PAJB is and has been the employees bargaining agent for years.

Need more proof?

The next time you look at your contract for your unit, look at the signature page. You won't see Danny Furlong. You won't see Edward Nassan.


You'll either see Sam Williamson, or David Melman, both representatives of the PAJB.


So...fellow workers, can we finally end this dispute? Its time to lay down our arms and work together to bring the fight where it really needs to be: against the boss.

NOT AGAINST EACHOTHER!!!

How Many Out of Town Organizers Does it Take to Screw Over a Local?

So... on Thursday, March 11th, UNITE HERE had a rally.

They brought fresh pressed laminated signs

Plenty of bullhorns

and flew in the best organizers from across... and we mean across the country.

Over twenty (we are still calculating the exact total...and names are coming baby!) OUT OF TOWN organizers were here for the march.


So where did they march?


Aramark at the Mellon?

The Hilton?

Levy at the Convention Center?


nope.


THEY MARCHED TO THE SEIU OFFICES...

really? really? really, UNITE HERE... really???


"Lets pour a bunch of resources into fighting another union, that's a brilliant plan. How should we pay for this, UNITE HERE?

Healthcare fund?

Strike fund?

Local membership dues???


F O U L!!!

What about all the SEIU workers downtown that have nothing to do with John Wilhelm's revenge war?

Our security guards, custodians, ushers, nurses...

You knuckleheads are so blind; driven by ONE MANS NATIONAL AGENDA, and you don't even know it.

Who is really doing the raiding, HERE?

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Crescent Hotels and Resorts has agreed to recognize the existing contract and Local 57, Workers United/SEIU as the collective bargaining agent for the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel.

They notified David Melman and the PA Joint Board that they will follow the existing collective bargaining agreement. All terms and conditions of that contract will remain in full force. Wages, benefits, seniority and working conditions that were fought for will ALL BE PROTECTED!!!

So...instead of using precious union resources to march on another union,(a la UniteHERE) Workers United can now use resources to help to maintain and improve working conditions at one of Pittsburgh's finest hotels.

DUES ARE FOR FIGHTING THE BOSS, NOT FIGHTING ANOTHER UNION, WILHELM!!

Congratulations to the Hilton hotel staff, you are gonna get one of the best contracts you've ever had.

Sam, workers, SEIU storm the mayors office!

Last post, we alluded to Pittsburgh United working with SEIU Local 32BJ and members of Local 57 on helping to pass the prevailing wage legislation through city council.

Wanna see how it all started?




Which union is working for the workers and which union is working for the union?

Now workers against the community?! Really UNITE HERE???!!

Well well well....

You might have heard UNITE HERE scream foul. You might have heard them talk of "secret emails" and "backdoor deals" in terms of SEIU...

Well check out this secret email sent to many UniteHERE supporters at the Mellon Arena.

(The name of the original emailer will be anon because we here at The Truth feel that pitting workers against workers is very destructive)






----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "********_*****" <********_*****@yahoo.com>
To: "********_*****" <********_*****@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 1:48:44 PM GMT -05:00 Colombia
Subject: SEIU is at it again...

If you get a letter in the mail, see a posting any where or get a phone call saying they are supporting MELLON ARENA WORKERS, from one of the following:

PITTSBURGH UNITED (PU) or
NORTHSIDE UNITED (NSU) or
WORKERS UNITED (WU) or
SEIU

ALL the groups listed above here are a part of SEIU!
SEIU uses the word "United" in all of their smaller organizations.

DO NOT GO TO ANY OF THEIR RALLIES, MEETINGS OR FUNCTIONS. SEIU/WORKERS UNITED ARE NOW USING THESE NAMES TO TRY AND CONFUSE YOU AND TO LURE YOU IN TO THEIR WEB OF LIES!

If they had good intentions they would never use other names or groups to hold meetings for them...

In SEIU/WU's latest fliers/mailings/calls they are releasing, they are using the name PITTSBURGH UNITED (PU). PU claims they're in support of the Mellon Arena Workers who's contracts are with WU. WU DOES NOT have any contracts! Unite Here Local 57 HAS the contracts with ARAMARK (and all the local union hotels)!

Workers United/SEIU is NOT our Union!!!

If you are confused on which union is our union because of the name similarities. Just remember the name/word HERE. Like you are HERE in the Mellon Arena. Or HERE at home reading this email...HERE!

We ARE "Unite HERE! Local 57"...

Please send/forward this to all your friends and co-workers, who work at Mellon Arena, so they know not to get caught up in the SEIU confusion and lies, too!

If you have not received any news letters or bulletins in the mail (not email) from our union, Unite Here local 57, and would like to receive mailings. Please email/reply to me with your name and address so that I can forward it to the International and local offices.

If you have any questions please reply to this email.
(********_*****@yahoo.com)





This is just...just wrong...

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW:

Pittsburgh UNITED is a community organization driven to ensure that working families and low and moderate-income communities are able to share in the prosperity that is generated by economic growth and development.

On issues like the prevailing wage it had teamed up with SEIU, Local 32BJ to help push for actual city legislation. It has also teamed up with UNITE HERE in the past, which you can clearly see on their web page.

But now, organizers from out of town are pushing this kind of rhetoric on our workers?

F O U L!!!!

You want to try and fight another Union, then fine (not really), but DO NOT COME AFTER OUR COMMUNITY!!

PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL HAS OUR BACK!

On Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010, Councilmen Bruce Kraus of Pittsburgh's 3rd District sponsored a "Will of Council" proposal to City Council, they they stand behind the workers at the Mellon Arena.

The most passionate members for UNITE HERE will say that they got the Will of Council passed. But those of us that can critically think know that its a GOOD POSSIBILITY that BOTH UNIONS involved in the dispute spoke with city council.

And those of us that don't believe something unless there is proof? Well, we are in for a treat. I think its pretty obvious who really rallied city council:




Next you will see Councilmen Kraus proposing the motion:



The council puts it forth for discussion. Pay close attention to Councilmen Kraus' remarks regarding exactly how he found out about this issue:



Now ask yourself... which union is working for the workers, and which union is working to fight another union?

Hmmmm....

Obama: Paint the town purple!!!

President Obama is a proud SEIU supporter. He actually started his career as an Organizer and helped SEIU in Chicago organize many workers.



SEIU President, Andy Stern, is a close friend of The President. Since he's been in office, the White House visitors log shows that Stern has paid the Chief 22 visits!! Workin' for the people on the highest levels, baby!!

The History

In order to know the full story, you need to know the history. When UNITE HERE members say "UNITE HERE has always represented us", they really mean HERE (Hotel Employees, Restaurant Employees). UNITE HERE wasn't actually formed until 2004, six years ago:

Learn about the union HERE, here!

Despite allegations of HERE being tied to organized crime, Local 57 was a regional union powerhouse in the late 70s and 80s. Lou Sanfilippo is legend among local membership. With a strong and poised demenor, he helped to guide our Local to a true brotherhood with the workers, and was said to negotiate a contract with "a handshake".

But after federal charges that he knowingly associated with an organized crime group and permitted that group to exercise influence over Local 57's affairs, Lou and several others found themselves in an entanglement with the federal government. They reached an agreement which did not constitute an admission by Sanfilippo of any wrongdoing, but barred Sanfilippo from the HEREIU and its constituent entities for life, effective April 24, 1998.

He unfortunately passed in August of 2003, and the age of 88. And we, in Pittsburgh, know that he should be remembered not for that one blemish on his resume (which, remember, he never admitted to!!), but instead for his strong and driven leadership, and that he worked for the workers.

It wasn't until the merger of UNITE and HERE to form UNITE HERE that we began to revitalize.

Locally this meant great things for us, with the financial resources of Bruce Raynor, and the strategic organizing tactics of John Wilhelm, Pittsburgh and Local 57 was poised to reclaim the throne as a union powerhouse.

Shortly after the merger, the Pennsylvania Joint Board became affiliated with Local 57. And we met Sam Williamson.

But Sam's job did not unfold as he expected:

Read about Local 57s trusteeship by UNITE HERE

As you can see, there were some shady dealings going on inside of our Pittsburgh Local. But under Sam's smart and practical leadership, we were able to prevail and move forward toward a better job standard in the city of Pittsburgh.

We began to see significant improvement in contracts. Wage raises were negotiated across the city and a serious improvement in benefits at many units were met.

The David L. Lawrence Convention Center actually got a pension!!!


On a local level, we were making things happen again. But on a national level, things were falling apart.

See what Bruce Raynor, former General President of UNITE HERE, had to say about his former union


The marriage between UNITE and HERE did not work. Thus began the messy divorce, and our fight. On a local level, some of us felt we should remain with HERE, the union that had represented us for so long.

But many of us felt that it was past time for a change. While the vote is still debated...a large majority of us voted to leave UNITE HERE and remain with the PA Joint Board and Sam Williamson.

Read the Tribune Review coverage of the local vote.


While again, the vote is still contested by passionate UNITE HERE supporters, its hard to argue against a 784-105 majority vote.

Since then, the fight has gotten ugly, both nationally and locally. And now, today, many members are at ends with each other. Will this ever end?