Borders Books Workers on Strike

[bordersunion]

In what could be the culmination of a long campaign to
unionize Borders Books, workers at the Flagship store of
the Ann Arbor-based corporation went out on strike
November 8th. Thirteen Borders stores have conducted union
votes in the last eight years, and two stores are
currently in negotiations for a first contract.

http://www.bordersunion.org

From the Organizing Committee:

Workers at Borders Books store #1 in Ann Arbor, MI will
go on strike this Saturday, November 8 at 9:00 AM. We do
not take this step lightly. By striking, we hope to
convince Borders Management to negotiate with us in good
faith so we can reach a fair contract and return to our
jobs.

We are writing to ask you to continue to support us by
1) boycotting all Borders, Waldenbooks, and Amazon.com;

2) volunteering to picket with workers in front of the
store;

3) joining Borders Readers United, our community support
coalition [e-mail]

4) calling Borders Headquarters (734-477-1100) to tell
them you support us;

5) coming to our Strike Fund Concert at the Ark in Ann
Arbor on 11/10/03;

6) signing an online petition:
http://BordersReadersUnited.2ya.com

7) forwarding this message to all your friends and
colleagues!

In Solidarity and thanks, Borders Workers Union
Organizing Committee

[DUreader]

1. Thanks, will do, Solidarity

[VolcanoJen]

2. Welcome to DU, bordersunion!

Welcome to our happy home, and we hope you find lots of good information, inspiration and comraderie around here.

I'm sure we'll do our part to continue the boycott. Thanks for this notice!!

[proud patriot]

3. Welcome Underground ...Sent this to family and friends

Best of luck to you .. Solidarity !

[JanMichael]

4. You have my support!

I think this is a General Disscussion topic. More interest will be generated there.

Actually I used to work for Borders in Tampa a few years ago and if I was still there I'd certainly be a Union member.

Best of luck!

[ajacobson]

5. support

I emailed the Michigan for Clark Yahoo Group and will forward more info!!

Alan in Detroit

on edit: forward more info to the Michigan for Clark list!!

[MaryBear]

6. Could you please explain

how a strike at Borders is related to an Amazon.com boycott? While it may make good sense, I don't see the connection in your post.

:shrug:

[ajacobson]

7. Borders/Amazon

Borders online book sales are done through a partnership with Amazon. Borders shut down their own online sales operation a couple of years ago.

Shop www.powells.com They are a unionized online book retailer (represented by ILWU in Seattle).

[liberalmike27]

8. Okay, but

Let me know when it's resolved, we don't have either of those stores in Mobile, but I like Amazon. The used books there are pretty good.

[guitar man]

9. solidarity

Fight the good fight and don't back down!

I am a Borders shopper,I spend a fair amount of money with them.I will contact them to let them know they will get no more of my money if they don't treat your union fairly.


Peace :)

[MaryBear]

11. A-ha!

Thank you for this info. Powells is a great resource. I'm glad to hear they are unionized, and will order exclusively through them from now on.

[beyurslf]

10. I called.

Thanks for the post. Update on that status if you can. Thanks!

[bubba_fett]

12. Wow

I love Borders, I was trying to get a job there for awhile, despite their horrible pay. But I guess the best way for me to support that store is to support their workers. Then maybe I can get a (second) job there again sometime.

Boycott I will.

[benburch]

13. Banner Art Please!!!

Please get me some banner art for use on http://www.WhiteRoseSociety.org/

We are 100% behind the union!

-Ben Burch
White Rose Society Webmaster

[bordersunion]

14. Thanks, everyone.

Thanks to DU for pulling its Amazon links.

Also, people should kn ow, Powells Books conducted a one-day strike this week. They are working without a contract.

[benburch]

15. Damn...

... and I'm all signed up with Powell's! Well, a strike is very different from not allowing a union, so I think I'll keep them for now. Let me know if this gets too bad.

[zizzer]

16. 'cause you allways need a soundtrack

There once was a union maid, she never was afraid
Of goons and ginks and company finks and the deputy sheriffs who made the raid.
She went to the union hall when a meeting it was called,
And when the Legion boys come 'round
She always stood her ground.

CHORUS:
Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union, I'm sticking to the union.
Oh, you can't scare me, I'm sticking to the union,
I'm sticking to the union 'til the day I die.

This union maid was wise to the tricks of company spies,
She couldn't be fooled by a company stool, she'd always organize the guys.
She always got her way when she struck for better pay.
She'd show her card to the National Guard
And this is what she'd say:

CHORUS

You gals who want to be free, just take a tip from me;
Get you a man who's a union man and join the ladies' auxiliary.
Married life ain't hard when you got a union card,
A union man has a happy life when he's got a union wife.

CHORUS



I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you or me
Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead,"
"I never died," says he
"I never died," says he

"In Salt Lake, Joe," says I to him,
Him standing by my bed,
"They framed you on a murder charge,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead,"
Says Joe, "But I ain't dead."

"The copper bosses killed you, Joe,
They shot you, Joe," says I.
"Takes more than guns to kill a man,"
Says Joe, "I didn't die,"
Says Joe, "I didn't die."

And standing there as big as life
And smiling with his eyes
Joe says, "What they forgot to kill
Went on to organize,
Went on to organize."

"Joe Hill ain't dead," he says to me,
"Joe Hill ain't never died.
Where working men are out on strike
Joe Hill is at their side,
Joe Hill is at their side."

"From San Diego up to Maine,
In every mine and mill,
Where workers strike and organize,"
Says he, "You'll find Joe Hill,"
Says he, "You'll find Joe Hill."

I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you or me
Says I, "But Joe, you're ten years dead,"
"I never died," says he
"I never died," says he