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Paul E. Reckner schrieb: > Wrongly-fired Field Techs Picket Caesars'/ISU -- UAFT (IUOE Local 141) Update > > On Monday September 14, 1998, 12 of the 21 archaeological field technicians > laid off by Indiana State University's contract lab raised an informational > picket in front of the Caesars' construction site along HWY 111, near New > Albany, Indiana. As soon as the technicians set foot on the shoulder of the > road (highway > right-of-way) Caesar's goons dressed in black t-shirts and jeans began > threatening and harassing them. The techs were told to "get the hell off of > Caesars' property" and that they were "all going to jail." Trey Edwards, > assistant project manager from Caesars, sat in a company vehicle across the > street from the picket line counting heads, taking pictures and talking on > his cellular phone. One of the larger goons told picketing techs that he > was calling the sheriff and state troopers to arrest everyone present. > Luckily, the media showed up before violence was incited -- the Vice > Chairman of the UAFT was told by Caesars' thugs that he would be hit if he > didn't leave the area immediately. > > Local affiliates from FOX, NBC, ABC, and local Louisville station TV 32 > covered the action. There were also reporters from the Louisville Courier > Journal and the Corydon Democrat there. National Public Radio covered the > picket as well. Regardless of the rocky start the picket was a smashing > success. An estimated 90% of the 300 union construction workers walked off > the site and honored the picket line. Many were shouting "solidarity" and > blowing their car horns as they drove away and one construction worker > briefly joined the line. Of the 21 field technicians who kept their jobs at > the site, only 7 showed up for work on Monday. > > Many trucks carrying cargo to the site turned away when they saw the picket > signs and refused to deliver their materials. It was the first time since > construction started on the Ohio river floodplain that there was silence > across the area -- no heavy machinery was working. The informational picket > ended Monday afternoon, but news crews covering the story from helicopters > above the site reported live at 6pm that work was still at a > stand still at that time. Before the picketing began, construction had been > ongoing 24 hours a day (3 shifts). One building trades representative > estimated that Caesars had lost apporximately $100,000 as a result of the > morning's activities. > > At the time this report was prepared there have been no attempts by Caesars > or Indiana State University to open negotiations with the UAFT. The > archaeological technicians are seeking re-employment with ISU and a union > contract that pays the $18/per hour union scale that is owed them. The UAFT > will continue to pursue this matter with ISU and Caesars until a resolution > is reached that satisfies all parties involved. > > > Further questions on the UAFT's position should be addressed to: > Employee counsel Jim McDonald of Terra Haute, IN. 812.238.2546 > > Comments (and complaints) regarding ISU's actions may be addressed to: > Dr. Rus Safford > voice 812.237.3990 > fax 812.237.3996 > > The UAFT Homepage is located at http://members.aol.com/UAFT/home.htm > > Please forward to all interested parties -- thanks in advance! > > > In Solidarity, > > Paul Reckner (member - UAFT) geoff carver [log in to unmask] http://home.t-online.de/home/gcarver/ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%