Strike

Reports of Union-Related Violence Surface in Bakersfield, California

Will Collins — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:28:31 -0400

A Foundation Action subscriber recently brought this developing story to our attention. Reports of union-related violence and intimidation have surfaced in Bakersfield, California, where members of the local United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners are accused of physically abusing a project manager at a local construction site. Police have responded to reports of union-related violence by opening an investigation into the incident.

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. intends to file a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board charging the union with physical violence, coercive behavior, and invasion of a job site. The organization represents non-union contractors nationwide.

Video: Employees Suffer Broken Windows, Slashed Tires, and Stalking for Refusing to Strike

Justin Hakes — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:13:56 -0400

View a new video by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation about the often brutal intimidation that employees face for exercising their Right to Work.

Sadly, while these employees suffered greatly, others often face far worse retaliation for refusing to walk off the job during a strike.

Photos Show Nails in Employee's Driveway, Tobacco Juice on Windshield (Warning: Graphic)

Justin Hakes — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:36:24 -0400

Additional photos documenting earlier reported incidents of retaliation against employees of Volvo who kept working during a recent UAW union strike have surfaced.

Here, an employee finally gained the ability to press charges against a union operative for spitting tobacco juice all over her windshield after contacting the National Right to Work Foundation.

And here are just a couple of several hundred nails the very same employee found in her driveway before heading out to work one morning.

Photo Surfaces: Volvo Employee's Smashed Out Car Window...More to Come...

Justin Hakes — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:33:26 -0400

One Volvo employee's car windows were smashed out in the dead of night, even though he parked his car near his home under a spotlight because he feared retaliation for refusing to strike. Many such photos have surfaced, and we plan to have them online as soon as possible. The National Right to Work Foundation is continuing to act on behalf of employees during the fallout from this strike.

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Volvo Employee to Press Charges Against Picketer

Justin Hakes — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:37:41 -0400

Though it's pretty PG-rated compared to what else has gone on around the UAW strike in Virginia, a local employee called in to say that she has been allowed to press charges against a UAW picketer for spitting tobacco onto her car windshield and obstructing her view.

Late Night Phone Call "Congratulates" Worker

Justin Hakes — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 13:27:07 -0400

When the Volvo strike that we've covered heavily over the past week came to an end Saturday, one non-striking Volvo employee reports that she received an anonymous "congratulatory" phone call late that night.

When the employee answered the phone, the caller reported the tally of the vote to end the strike and reportedly said:

"Congratulations, you f***ing scab!"

It's because of such hostility that the National Right to Work Foundation again acted on behalf of employees in the area today, seeking information about employee reports that police refused to protect them from union vandalism and harassment.

Reported Reprisals Flooding In from Volvo Employees

Justin Hakes — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:43:10 -0400

In case you missed it yesterday, the National Right to Work Foundation is asking for an investigation into reports from employees that local police may have turned a blind eye to union harassment of non-striking workers at Volvo in Pulaski County, Virginia.

Meanwhile, employees continue to contact us with stories of what's been going on during the strike. Some employees report that in addtion to what has already been reported, they believe that union operatives have stalked them, collected their license plate numbers, and slashed their tires.

Again, employees seeking free legal aid can contact the Foundation toll-free at (800) 336-3600.

More on Volvo Strike: Coffin at Union Hall Reads "All Scabs Welcome Here"

Justin Hakes — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:52:22 -0400

(Photo by Larry Middleton)

More reports of alleged union inimidation of employees during a strike at Volvo near Roanoke, Virginia, are pouring out today, including a news story by WDBJ-TV. The video report also shows a makeshift coffin put up outside the union hall with an arrow pointing into it and reading "All Scabs Welcome Here."

The report also quotes several employees:

"I expected them to call me a scab. I expected that," says Volvo worker Dreama Domniguez. "What I didn't expect was some of the men that I sorta admired, thought they were descent people, to grope themselves as I drove by."

read more

Non-Striking Volvo Employees Find Nails in Driveways, "Scab" Signs in Front Yards, Broken Car Window

Justin Hakes — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:41:00 -0400

Think that union intimidation is a thing of the past? You might think again.

WSLS-TV out of Roanoke, Virginia, shows in a video report that nonunion Volvo employees in the Roanoke, Virginia, area claim they're being singled out for continuing to work during a United Auto Workers union-ordered strike.

Multiple reports of nails in employees' driveways, sugar in the gas tank of a car, "scab live here" signs in their yards, and a broken window of one of a worker's car have surfaced. One worker also reported being followed home after work.

While the local UAW union head says "I don't know if it did happen or didn't happen..." it's a disgrace if employees are being singled out simply for going to work.

Any employee wanting to know their rights should immediately contact the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation toll-free at 1-800-336-3600 or email legal@nrtw.org.

The S-Word

Patrick Semmens — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:57:52 -0500

When union officials order a strike there is one word they use over and over to intimidate and harass: Scab

Case in point is the recent Writers Guild Union strike, and the recent decision of Carson Daly’s “Last Call with Carson Daly” show to continue production. Union officials immediately denounced the show for hiring “scabs,” but in reality their threat isn’t against the show so much as it is against rank-and-file writers.

The writers, like all employees who have been ordered out on strike by union bosses, have the legal right to return to work as explained here. However, in an effort to intimidate workers into toeing the union line, once again union officials are using the s-word as a slur to intimidate employees from exercising their legal rights.