|
|
|
Help Enterprise Rent-A-Car workers
win back their jobs!
After trying for more than a year
to get management to address critical wage, safety and
discrimination concerns, shuttle van drivers, car prep workers and
drivers employed at Enterprise’s East Boston airport location tried
to form a union to begin negotiations with management to address
their concerns. Two-thirds of the workers signed cards signifying
their interest in forming a union with IUE-CWA Local 201.
On May 29, the Enterprise workers requested management
recognize their union. When management refused, the workers
petitioned the NLRB on June 4 to conduct a government-supervised
election. A hearing on their petition was scheduled for June 18 at
the NLRB in Boston.
But, within two weeks, management retaliated, informing the
shuttle van and car prep workers that their jobs would be
subcontracted to Houston-based ParkWest Staffing Services.
Management also announced that all current Enterprise car drivers
would have to apply to for jobs at other Enterprise locations.
Management informed the NLRB that a hearing would not be necessary
because Enterprise would no longer have any employees at the
Airport.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car workers filed an unfair labor practice
charge on June 15. “All we are trying to do is have a voice at work
and a union contract that spells out our wages and working
conditions,” said Enterprise shuttle van driver Jonny Arevalo. “Now
management is depriving us of our rights by making us all apply for
our jobs with a new company. It’s outrageous!”
The unfair labor practice charge – given to the National Labor
Relations Board’s New England Regional Office – claims that the
subcontracting maneuver was brazen and illegal retaliation against
the employees for a long history of engaging in activities to
improve their wages and working conditions. The National Labor
Relations Act prohibits management from closing facilities or
subcontracting work to avoid dealing with workers as a group.
In a June 13 memo to employees, Enterprise
Regional Vice President Mark
Jewell stated, “We wish to emphasize this decision has been in the
works for several months and has nothing to do with recent union
activities.”
Unwilling to accept such flagrant lies,
Local 201 and other supporters of Enterprise Rent-A-Car workers,
including MassCOSH, Jobs with Justice and the Chelsea Collaborative,
are asking everyone to show support by refusing to rent a car
from Enterprise until it restores the jobs and recognizes the
workers’ union. The boycott was kicked off at the large rally
Thursday, July 12th, in front of the Airport Enterprise
office on Rt.1A in East Boston.
Petitions pledging support for the Boycott of Enterprise
Rent-A-Car should be circulating in the shop soon. The petitions
are also aimed at Electric Insurance Company, which uses Enterprise
as a replacement-rental source.
You can also keep
up the pressure on Enterprise by calling Mark Jewel,
Regional Vice President of
Enterprise Rent-A-Car at (781) 238-2010 to tell him that you will
support the boycott.
Enterprise Car Rental Workers Fight
to Join Local 201
Last month a group of courageous workers at
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, in East Boston, marched to their manager as a
group and handed him a letter. Twenty one workers signed the
letter, demonstrating that they represented a majority of the van and
car drivers and the car prep group. They asked for simple recognition
of the union and to sit down with the company and negotiate a
contract—as their right under the National Labor Relations Act. The
delegation was supported by community groups and a dozen members of
IUE-CWA Local 201, including President Crosby, Executive Board member
Bill Rounseville, and Sgt. At Arms Bill Ryan.
Management reaction was predictable under the labor laws and
practices of the United States today. A hysterical human relations
manager started screaming about calling the police and demanding that
the group leave the property. Stone-faced managers refused to discuss
the letter, to meet with the group or representatives of the group, or
even to set a date for a meeting. It was treatment that Local 201
members, who have worked union for most of their lives, can scarcely
imagine.
A one hour stand-off ensued, while picketers drew the attention of
the crawling traffic in front of the Enterprise office on Rt. 1A. A
minister from Beverly, a leader of the Essex County Community
Organization (ECCO) delivered a letter of support for the workers. A
leader from MassCosh and Local 201 organizer Rand Wilson stayed with the
workers’ delegates in the parking lot. At the end of the day, the group
left with plans to return again and again if necessary to win a voice on
the job for Enterprise Workers.
Enterprise is an employer notorious for mistreating its employees.
Complaint after complaint has been filed over safety violations and
discrimination. One driver might be promoted to a full-time job after
two weeks, while another might wait two years, with no rhyme or reason.
Wages
are several dollars an hour below the union represented workers at Avis,
the car rental agency at the airport organized in IUE-CWA Local 298.
Local 298 has an office in the Local 201 building in Lynn. Two of
their leaders have worked with Local 201 in the organizing effort at
Enterprise. There are several more non-union car rental agencies at the
airport as well as Enterprise.
After the Rt. 1A protest, the Enterprise workers filed with the
National Labor Relations Board for an election. A hearing will be held
to determine if both sides can agree on who would be in the bargaining
unit—and therefore eligible to vote in a union election.
Company Attacks
The day after the demonstration a leader of
the workers, Jonny Arevelo, tried to return to work from an injury as
planned. He was met at 5:30 in the morning by the regional manager, who
came in from Woburn, to tell Jonny: “I don’t think you are ready to
return to work”, and sent him home. Local 201 filed a Board charge
against Enterprise for this obvious attempt to intimidate the group.
The fight to bring basic rights to this group of workers at
Enterprise will continue, both in front of the National Labor Relations
Board and in the streets. Local 201 members will be called upon to
help.
|
