This week I had the opportunity to view the Fairpoint picket lines. I had never seen a picket line because I am from a family, where my parents and husband were and are never allowed to strike. I was able to speak to some of the picketers and one of the organizers to get some insight into what is happening.
The strike began on October 17th
forcing close to 2,000 people in three states onto the picket lines. Their
fight, that still continues today, is for fair contracts, keeping jobs local,
keeping pensions and job security, according to Raymond resident Erin Nunn.
There is a negotiation team in
Washington D.C working for the union. IBEW 2327 and CWA Local 1400. While
mediation is going on there is a gag order in effect, so people on the lines
don’t know exactly what is going on, but they are “cautiously optimistic,” said
Nunn.
Being part of a union, “changes the
basic power relationship at work. Without a union, employers have almost all
the rights. They can change your pay and working conditions at any time as long
as they do not violate certain laws, like the minimum wage. Any benefits you
receive are at the discretion of your employer.”
In a union, “your employer cannot make
changes in your working conditions unless they are negotiated with you as union
members. Any benefits or working conditions covered by your contract are
protected by law.”
“A union gives you strength in numbers
to improve your pay, benefits, and working conditions.” (SEIU503.org)
Union members are striking 12 hours a
day, 7 days a week. They have a schedule to accommodate people who had to go
get jobs because while the workers are on strike, they are not getting paid.
“The goal is to get a fair contract and
get back to work,” said union worker Julie Dawkins.
The people who have taken over the union
jobs in the interim are considered “scabs”. When they arrive at work, the
protesters march around in front of them three times and chant. Then as the car
drives through, the yell “scab”.
As I said, I’m only beginning to understand
how unions and strikes work. The union says “strike” and the workers have to
leave their desks and start picketing regardless of how this will affect their
families and their pocketbooks.
The replacement workers are only trying
to do a job and get paid to help their families. What’s wrong with that? Why
should they be yelled at on their way to and from work?
To me it seems like this is a very big
us versus them mentality. What happens when the strike is over and the union
workers return to their desks? Does everything go back to the way it was?
Nunn said that they all wanted to go
back to work to help the customers. How are the customers coming first if
Fairpoint is dragging out this fight with its employees? It seems to me that
having trained employees who can help the customers should be the first
priority. When it comes to teachers, nurses and police officers, they often
work without contracts while negotiations are taking place behind the
scenes…they are however still getting paid. My question is why strike? Is the
hope that the compromise will happen sooner? I feel bad for the employees of
Fairpoint who have been forced into their position of having a job, but needing
to find another one to make ends meet. Where does it end?
