The following message was sent by Los Angeles Times management.
There is a rumor that as many as four pressroom employees were escorted away from a meeting at which the Company was discussing the Union in a manner intended to embarrass them. None of this is true. Here are the facts.
Yesterday two employees at the Olympic plant and two employees working in Orange County were told they were not invited to the meetings but that they would be paid for their time and that they were free to use the cafeteria or break rooms. The Orange County employees were told well in advance, the Olympic employees just before the meeting.
Each of theses employees is a very strong Union supporter, which is their right. But it is perfectly clear that we are not going to change their minds so they were not invited. The National Labor Relations Board has long held that an employer does not violate the law by excluding openly pro-union employees from attending a meeting at which the employer presents its view on union representation to other employees. Luxury of NY Division of Beaunit Corp., 185 NLRB 100, n. 1 (1970).
The meetings went ahead without incident at the Olympic plant. In Orange County, however, the two employees showed up claiming that it was unlawful to exclude them from the meeting. They were told that it was not unlawful and nothing further occurred. They were not “escorted” from the meeting.
These two Orange County employees knew hours in advance that they were not invited. (In fact, one of them had objected in the past to being required to attend these meetings.) They were the ones who tried to make a scene. The Company did nothing to attempt to embarrass them.
This is a perfect example of an attempt in Orange County to create a phony controversy furthering the kind of us-versus-them environment that the Union wants.
Ed,
ReplyDeleteSince I am obviously one of the Orange County employees you are mentioning, I think "I" can provide the "FACTS" about what happened in Orange County more clearly than you.
First, There were three Orange County Pressman who were as they stated, "UNINVITED"
Kerry McCluskey and Myself were NOT told "well in advance" but only when we arrived for the meeting. A supervisor was instructed not to allow anyone in that was not suppose to be there and was posted outside the door.
Neither of us made any kind of a "scene" or attempt to disrupt their "BRAINWASHING SESSION" as you describe.
This type of action against the Union Supporters is a form of discrimination and suppression of our right to free speech.
No one implied or stated that their actions were unlawful although it should be!
I don't know where you got the impression that we felt they were going to attempt to embarrass us in an attempt to win votes. That never came from any of us. If anyone should be embarrassed it should be the individuals who are responsible for making these decisions that are already backfiring.
A pressman in O.C. asked why we weren't being allowed to attend and accused them, not the Union of dividing us.
No one was discussing any of the "LIES AND PROPAGANDA" they were attempting to perpetuate, but were appauled that Management does not treat us all equally.
Whether I wish to be there or not is my perogative, but being barred from hearing, and being allowed to respond is a clear indication that it is US not THEM that are telling all of you the truth!
Of course I won't fall for all of their "LIES" but I have a responsibility to all of you to provide you with an opposing view, in order to do that, I need to know EVERYTHING they are saying.
One last thing Ed,
Please talk to us and ask for "FACTS" before you claim the thing you post are indeed "FACTS"
You are hurting your fellow pressmen's and women's ability to make an objective decision by
mis-stating the true facts.
Please call me before you post and I will be glad to tell you whatever you want to know.
This Company needs to take a course on The 1st Ammendment after all that's what this company was built on.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to exercise my free speech on your blog.
just before the meeting! at the door of the meeting.In front of other employees.
ReplyDeleteRonnie,
ReplyDeleteThis message was sent from management, I made the mistake of not clarifying whom it was from in my rush to get to the market this morning. Sorry I missed you at the front gate today, my crew starts at 2:30pm on Friday’s.
Ed, I sincerly appolgize for the tone of my previous comment. Your post gave the impression that you were the author.
ReplyDeleteThe statements "I" made regarding the "FACTS" are true, and the "RUMOR CONTROL" letter from management is a complete fabrication of the truth.
The Supervisor who was instructed to not allow me in the meeting(which no attempt to gain entry was made by Kerry or I to begin with) is a witness to the facts as I stated and knows that Kerry and I did none of the things they claim in their letter.
The other Pressman who was
"un-invited" is Charlie Laird. He was the only person that was informed in advance.
Gary Bunch and Ed Brunner were told at the end of their meeting that they would not be invited to any future meetings for voicing their opinions.
The "OPEN DOOR" policy just SLAMMED SHUT! If you don't say what they want everyone to hear, then they will just elimate your presence.
Where is that "communication" management speaks of? They don't listen but they expect you to!
Management has erred in assuming that there are only 5 "strong supporters" and think that none of the other supporters aren't going to contest their brainwashing attempts.
I'm glad to say that by refusing to allow us into those meetings, they railroaded their own meeting. I've heard no one talking about their presentation, but instead wonder what they were trying to hide by keeping us out.
So as I have said to management before "keep having these meetings" because everytime you do, our support for representation grows! Thank you for helping our effort to win the election!
Does anyone think the union would like management at their meetings?? This sounds like a double standard to me!
ReplyDeleteWhen and where is the next pro-union meeting? I would like to go and have them here what I have to say. Do you think I will be aloud in? Doubtful. Vote the union in... I cant wait to see TRIBUNE squish you like a bug.
ReplyDeleteHey Ed,
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the other 3 comments previously posted? Is this an attempt by you to decide what should be posted? Who's your dadddy? Piñata?
How many other comments have you chosen to not post?
Thank you poster #5 I was hoping that I wasn't the only one that noticed this "double standard".
ReplyDeleteHey Ronnie, how about some "facts". Does the union send out their mailings to every pressman at both facilities? Do you meet with, make calls to, and include all pressmen? Or have you identified pressman that you and your union buddies have classified as pro-company? Are you suppressing their right to free speech?
I'm not saying that the company was right by not having you come to their meeting, but you and your union buddies do the same thing. So its ok for you to do it as long as the company does not?
Ronnie, you are trying to come off as a martyr when in fact you and your union buddies are just a bunch of hypocrites!
ED How about union leaders will that work under your discretion. Like i said before i would not invite whiners and negative poison to my get together. Our managers are stating the facts on our company beliefs and dont want to be interrupted. To alot of us it is very serious time when the company is for sale .Bad timing on union campgain. Our managers are not aloud by law to union meetings. It is not BRAINWASHING you can look foy employment with another pressroom in CALIF. With a union for less evrything. HAPPY HOLIDAYS and PEACE
ReplyDeleteFour comments have been removed for getting too personal in nature.
ReplyDeleteIf you would like to post personal attacks upon Ronnie, use your real name, not anonymous.
I never said this was a democratic process, where you can say what you want without taking responsibility. I pay for the web space, so I set the rules as to what is said and heard here.
Many comments are rejected, and many others have been removed, not only for Ronnie, but also for others feeling the comments should be edited or deleted.
I have not been invited to any of the union meetings, but maybe management should be invited to one, I doubt they would show up.
I know exactly who is responsible for all the negative comments towards me.
ReplyDeleteNo one in O.C. would listen to him if the building was burning and he was yelling fire!
I gave him a chance to discuss any of his comments or ask me any questions personally, but he chose to hide in cyberspace.
That said, I will address the other issue regarding meeting attendance.
We have held meetings in L.A. and O.C. and no one has ever been denied access to our meetings.
We welcome everyone to attend and invite all of you to attend this particular meeting.
Pressmen from N.Y. Newsday are here to meet all of you and share their experiences working for Tribune under a Teamster Contract.
I am personally inviting you Rick Saterlee because you told me you were never invited. You will have every opportunity to speak your mind in our forum instead of always posting anonymous attacks.
Meeting info is being provided to Ed. Padgett to post on this site.
We can't force you to attend like management does, nor will we discriminate anyone from attending.
My name is spelled PINEDA!
The Times pays for our time at the meeting. Will the Union do the same?
ReplyDeleteThe Times pays for our time at the meeting. Will the Union do the same?
ReplyDeleteSilly rabbit, unions don't give you money, they take it from you!
ReplyDeleteThe union will do back flips.To get you suckers.Paying for vacations for union pressman from the east.Can they pay us overtime to attend? Have them send a couple anti union pressman from newsday to attend so they can disrupt your rally. NOT GONNA HAPPEN you know there is a big percentage antiunion in that shop. Just like here.
ReplyDeletekeep your overtime!I rather keep a pressman,benefits,and a say what happens here!
ReplyDelete#16 you have NO SAY IN ANYTHING.
ReplyDelete