Veterans Forced to Attend Anti-Union Meetings on Army Base

[Omaha Steve]

http://inthesetimes.org/working/entry/13426/veterans_forced_to_attend_anti-union_meetings_on_army_base/

By Mike Elk



A U.S. Marine in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Many veterans are facing difficulty from employers trying to bar them from joining unions upon their return to the U.S. (Photo by Adek Berry/Getty Images)

Jason Croic is a Marine combat veteran who served 28 months in Iraq. When he came home, he found a job working for $18 an hour as a mechanic on Stryker vehicles for General Dynamics Land Systems in Fort Lewis, Washington. Croic now has a new combatant, as his employer is attempting to stop him and his fellow contractors from joining Local 286 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).

For the last six months, Croic and 120 of his co-workers, nearly half of whom are veterans, have been forced to attend anti-union meetings, in which General Dynamics managers make them watch films about why unions are bad. General Dynamics has routinely told workers that if they vote to join union that it will likely lead to General Dynamics losing their contract with the U.S. Army. On several occasions, General Dynamics has even flown some of their top corporate officials out on Lear jets from their corporate headquarters in Sterling Heights, Michigan, to explain to the workers why they shouldn’t join a union.

“We have had these meetings where they provided one side of the story,” says Croic. “The message is we won’t be as employable to the Army as we are now because we won’t be as versatile. Being non-union, they say we are more attractive to the Army because we can be moved around easier.”

The union election is scheduled on June 29, and General Dynamics has been forcing workers to attend anti-union meetings nearly every day for the last month. These anti-union meetings aren’t being held on General Dynamic’s private property, but on public property at the U.S. Army base at Fort Lewis. The Army declined to comment for this story and has not taken a position on these meetings nor the claims that the workers voting to join a union would make them less attractive to the Army.

FULL story at link.

[Sherman A1]

1. So my Union made tax dollars are being used to provide a place

for an anti union campaign by GD. While hardly surprising these days, this does not make me particularly happy.

[Risen Demon]

2. Then good riddance GD

There are plenty of tech companies waiting in line outside the door of the DoD wanting that contract, and many who would be more than willing to allow a union group.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

3. Not sure I understand your point

The point isn't that other companies wouldn't want unions, GD's making the argument that the Army doesn't want to hire a union company.

[Risen Demon]

4. GD is making empty threats

A DoD contract is a godsend to any private company. If the military is unhappy with the product or service, then they'll open the floor for the next best offer.

Usually, anyways. It still sickens me about the whole Bush/Cheney cronies like with Halliburton and Blackwater getting no-bids.

[freshwest]

5. +1

[SickOfTheOnePct]

6. I think you're misreading the post

GD isn't threatening to leave the contract - they're saying that the Army might boot them from the contract if they unionize.

The only way I can see GD dropping the contract is if the union wages cause them to lose money, in which case, they would be stupid to stay.

[jeffiuoeseattle]

8. not really true army doesn't want to hire union company

The Joint base Lewis-Mchord Tacoma Wa. is full of union contractors selling their services to the army, air force.
We have union members on Whidbey Island naval air station working for subcontractor. IAM has employer who has flight simulator contract. General Dynamics can afford it they are rich from taxpayer money watch you tube on vets being told union is bad

[jeffiuoeseattle]

7. unsolicited contract

You hit it this contract is unsolicited. Just like Halliburton