That other union thread brought up a question of my own. Every night on the way to my train, I pass a group of people who have been picketing a hotel for more than a year. Their only complaint seems to be—based on their handouts—that said hotel uses non-union labor. I can see where union members would object to that—but what’s the law? Is it the hotel’s option to go non-union?
I might add that the picketers shout and blow whistles all the time to disrupt the hotel’s operations—and all they seem to be doing is royally pissing off those of us who are passing by . . .
That said I think it was in Atlantic City where some unions were trying to get into the hotels and the hotels were refusing. The ‘separate’ garbagemen’s union, in a show of solidarity, stopped picking up the hotels’ trash. It didn’t take very long for the hotels to cave into the union demands after that.
There are a whole slew of other ways unions can make it difficult on a business who refuses to hire union laborers. Picketing and making a nuisance of themselves to the hotel’s guests is just for starters. If other unions decide to back them ala the garbagemen deal above it can get really tough really fast on the business.
However, other unions don’t always lend such ‘aid’ to their brothers-in-arms. There is a construction site just down the street from where I live. Everyday two old men sit in front of the site with a pull-over bib decrying the sites lack of using union workers. Except for those same two old men I haven’t seen anything else to suggest pressure is being put on the contractors building the building.
A Holiday Inn in Minneapolis, I think, hired exclusively illegal aliens and turned them in when they tried to organize. They were able to get visas at the last minute, and there was no attempt to punish the hotel for hiring illegals.
Well, I have to admit, if I was the owner of that hotel, I certainly wouldn’t be running out to the first shop steward to hire a bunch of unionized workers who have nothing better to do than picket my operation just because I didn’t hire a union.
…It’s not exactly a “good sales tactic”.
Imagine the interview:
Interviewee: “Hi.”
Darq: “Hi… ‘Bob’, is it?”
Interviewee: “Yeah.”
Darq: “Right, well as you know Bob, we’ve now changed our HR rules to accomodate a share of union workers. And you seem to be associated with local flip flip …447.”
I: “Yep.”
Darq: “What was your specialty?”
I: “Food Preparation Engineer.”
D: “Ah, ‘Cook’.”
I: “Well-”
D: “And you’ve been at it for…flip seven years?”
I: “Yeah-”
D: “And I’ve seen you before, actually. Really interesting work.”
I: “Really? You ate at the Sheraton?”
D: “No, actually, I saw you picketing this hotel not one months ago because we didn’t hire unionized labour. So tell me, ‘Bob’, how do you feel that those picketing skills can be best used here?”
I: “Uhh…”
D: “Seriously. You were outside disrupting this operation’s day-to-day duties, and now you expect me to trust you with my equipment and a staff under you? I have to trust you to run the kitchen operation’s day-to-day duties. Well, I’ve certainly seen how you can disrupt it. Enlighten me.”
I: sweat “If you take a look at my resume-”
D: “Yes, I’ve taken a look at your resume, but I must admit that the image that really stands out in my mind is your rousing rendition of (and help me if I’ve got the words incorrect) ‘Say no to Darq’s Hotel/Hire union or go to hell’. Catching phrasing, I noticed, but the melody leaves something to be desired. But we’re not exactly talking to Sammy Hagar here flip flip …nope, no music school under ‘education’.”
I: “Uh. Mr. Angelle, you have to understand that-”
D: “-Was there a second verse to this rousing chant?”
…I dunno, maybe that’s just ME.
I did read their handouts, and tried to chat up one if the friendlier-looking picketers. I told him that the only effect I could see that the shouting, tin-pan banging and whistle-blowing was having was to alienate passersby, many of whom were muttering obscenities and imprecations under their breath. Didn’t seem to make much of an impression. This picketing has been going on for about two yearsm and the hotel doesn’t seem to be hurting for business—on the other hand, the strikers don’t seem to be working, either (same people out there day after day—how do they earn a living?).