Jimmy Johns Workers In Minneapolis To File For New Union Election

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Workers Independent News

Minneapolis Jimmy Johns workers will get another chance at electing to join the IWW after losing by two votes in an election nullified because the company violated labor law. Jesse Russell reports.

An attempt to organize workers nearly 200 workers for Jimmy John’s sandwich shops in Minneapolis has been anything but “freakishly fast.” The Industrial Workers of the World won the right for a union election on October 22 and lost by a vote of 87-85. However, the IWW alleged to the National Labor Relations Board that the company had engaged in unlawful union busting tactics. The union alleged that Jimmy Johns threatened to freeze wages, and to retaliate against union supporters. On January 10 the NLRB ruled in favor of the union and nullified the election. After 60 days the IWW will be allowed to file for a new election. As the union works toward a new election workers are asking the company’s owners to look at what they call the “10-Point Program for Justice at Jimmy Johns.” The plan includes time-and-a-half for working between midnight and 6 a.m., one paid sick day per month, maternity and paternity leave, half-hour lunch breaks when more than six hours are worked at a time, and other demands.


Read more: http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/Story.aspx?ID=1345799

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[Sherman A1]

1. Excellent!

Good News

[MJJP21]

2. unions

Increasing unionization is the one surest way to raise wages and thereby create stimulus for the recovery. If there is one thing Obama should do (but probably won't) is make it easier for unions to get a foothold. Even China understands this with allowing Walmart in China to be unionized and has laws ordering companies to recognize unions. I should also point out that China has been regularly raising the miniumum wage there at time up to 20%.

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. All right!

K&R

[davsand]

4. He was quoted in our local paper this morning.

I just had to put this up here because I think it really adds to the discussion:


"Liautaud also lashed out at union protesters who demonstrated against a "low-cost" contractor his company is using to build a Jimmy John's in Urbana. That restaurant will provide 30 jobs, he said.

He said he's sick of being "pummeled."

"I'm not sophisticated enough, smart enough or politically correct enough to absorb it all," he said..."

It is worth the time to read the full article at:

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/economy/2011-01-19/jimmy-johns-founder-contemplates-moving-headquarters-out-illinois.h



Laura

[davsand]

5. Dupe. Mods, please delete

[TBF]

6. Solidarity with labor. K&R nt

[murielm99]

7. When I was listening to NPR this morning,

the newscast said that Jimmy Johns wants to move its corporate headquarters from Illinois to Florida. Florida must be less union friendly and more corporate friendly. I bet that right wing governor of Wisconsin is disappointed that he did not get them to move there.