MESSY LABOR DIVORCE

[Omaha Steve]

http://gangbox.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/messy-labor-divorce-more-on-the-breakup-of-unite-here-the-union-of-needletrades-industrial-and-textile-employees-hotel-employees-and-restaurant-employees-international-union/

MESSY LABOR DIVORCE - more on the breakup of UNITE-HERE, the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees - Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union
Posted in Uncategorized by gangbox on the February 7, 2009

from the NEW YORK TIMES:

February 8, 2009
Two Unions in Marriage Now Face Divorce Talks

By STEVEN GREENHOUSE

With the economy in crisis and a new labor-friendly president in the White House, this should be a time when labor unions pull together.

But one of the nation’s best-known unions, Unite Here, which represents nearly 400,000 apparel, hotel, restaurant and casino workers, is doing anything but that.

“This union is engaged in a civil war,” said Bruce Raynor, president of Unite Here.

The hostilities have grown so serious that violent confrontations erupted last month when one faction ousted the union’s top official in Michigan.

With great fanfare in 2004, Unite — formerly called the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees — merged with Here, the larger Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union. But now Mr. Raynor and many of his supporters think the merger should be undone.

“This union has irreconcilable differences,” Mr. Raynor said. “The union should have a divorce.”

FULL story at link.

[euce1029]

1. Local 24

Video about the controversy in the Detroit HERE union noted in
the article.

http://vimeo.com/2983140