I think it was a matter of being hired at one place and then organizing
a union. That is a lesson that other blind people need to learn.
___
Sam Harris
“Are you really surprised by the endurance of religion? What ideology is likely
to be more durable than one that conforms, at every turn, to our powers of
wishful thinking? Hope is easy; knowledge is hard. Science is the one domain in
which we human beings make a truly heroic effort to counter our innate biases
and wishful thinking. Science is the one endeavor in which we have developed a
refined methodology for separating what a person hopes is true from what he has
good reason to believe. The methodology isn't perfect, and the history of
science is riddled with abject failures of scientific objectivity. But that is
just the point-these have been failures of science, discovered and corrected
by-what, religion? No, by good science.”
― Sam Harris
On 11/14/2020 9:35 PM, Miriam Vieni wrote:
What amazes me about this article is that visually impaired workers are
unionized anywhere. Historically, they've been in sheltered workshops earning
way below minimum wages with no worker protection of any kind. How did a whole
group of them get hired at one facility and get union representation?
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Roger Loran Bailey (Redacted sender "rogerbailey81" for DMARC)
Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2020 9:28 PM
To: blind-democracy <blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [blind-democracy] Visually impaired unionists fight layoffs, for safety
Visually impaired unionists fight layoffs, for safety
https://themilitant.com/2020/11/14/visually-impaired-unionists-fight-layoffs-for-safety/
BY MAGGIE TROWE
Vol. 84/No. 46
November 23, 2020
CINCINNATI — Teamsters-organized workers at the factory run by the Cincinnati
Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired here are fighting back against
layoffs, wage cuts and unsafe working conditions.
Two-thirds of these 65 workers, members of Teamsters Local 100, are blind or
visually impaired. They slit tape, produce exit signs and craft and exam paper,
and assemble kitchen gadgets. Management of the nonprofit outfit imposed a
COVID-related shutdown in April.
“We will recall laid-off employees as business needs warrant based first on job
function and then by seniority,” they wrote laid-off workers.
“Prior to recalling laid-off employees to regular job classifications,
additional temporary transfers may be made available based on business needs.”
“They wanted to retain people who were sighted, but those people are lower
seniority. The employees that were blind have the most seniority,”
Dorian Stone, a union representative for Teamsters Local 100, told the
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Management brought a few workers back later in April and more in August,
ignoring seniority, Dave Perry, a production worker at the factory, told the
Militant. “They cut some workers’ pay in half,” he said. “Managers engaged in
production work, a violation of our union contract. They also hired workers
from a temporary agency who are not blind and paid them less than the unionized
workers.”
During the shutdown management rearranged machines so there is no longer a
physical barrier to keep workers out of the danger zone where cranes move huge
tape rolls to slitting machines. They also recently told the blind workers they
wouldn’t help them cross the busy street in front of the plant, claiming this
will help blind workers live more independently.
“About 25 workers signed a petition against these violations and presented it
to management,” Perry said. Workers also filed grievances against management
doing production jobs and hiring temps, and for ending inadequate social
distancing because machines were set too close together. This resistance got
results.
All but 15 of the union workers are back now. The company is taking workers’
temperatures as they enter. They’re employing fewer from agencies.
“But we still have issues,” Perry said. “We want everyone back. Our union
steward is still on layoff and isn’t allowed on company property to represent
us. The company won’t let business agent Dorian Stone, or local President Bill
Davis, on company property either.”
Having a union is important to him. “I’ve heard workers here in the 1980s had
to fight like crazy to bring in the union,” Perry said, “and a lot of people
lost their jobs.”
“Only 30% of blind people are able to find work they can do,” Perry said. “We
want to be productive, earn a living and be treated with respect.”
Newfoundland strikers vote on Dominion’s ‘final offer’
The 1,400 workers who belong to Unifor Local 597 on strike at the
Dominion supermarket chain in Newfoundland started voting on a “final”
contract proposal from the company Nov. 9. The balloting continues at
the picket lines until Nov. 13.…
Primary care nurses strike across New Zealand
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Over 100 primary care workers held a lively
picket here Nov. 9. It was part of a 24-hour strike and protest actions
by over 3,000 nurses and administration and reception staff from family
doctor offices and…
Chicago feed workers strike for better pay and conditions
CHICAGO — Twenty-eight members of United Food and Commercial Workers
Local 881 at ReConserve went on strike Nov. 2 for better pay and
conditions. The company takes food scraps and converts them into feed
for pigs and chickens. The plant…
Social crisis, union fight mark life in Arizona mining towns
KEARNY, Ariz. — Like other workers across the country, miners and others
in Arizona’s “copper triangle” are facing an unprecedented economic and
social crisis. Over 60% of copper produced in the U.S. comes from the
state and despite some mine…
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Visually impaired unionists fight layoffs, for safety
Social crisis, union fight mark life in Arizona mining towns
Cops videocam shows Walter Wallace shot in cold blood
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On the Picket Line
Newfoundland strikers vote on Dominion’s ‘final offer’
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25, 50 and 75 years ago
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