|
The
purpose of this message is to describe a common union
busting tactic as described by Marty Levitt, a former
“labor relations consultant” who wrote the book
Confessions of a Union Buster. We believe,
contrary to what we were told in our meetings with
Andrew Pascal, that this tactic is being employed
currently at Wynn and we must be informed and educated
if we hope to prevail.
Workers
online, an “Official Organ of Labornet,” posted a
review of Marty Levitt's book that contains the
following text:
|
The two key targets of the
"counter organizing drives" are the
rank-and-file worker and their immediate
supervisors. Supervisors serve as the shock
troops of the union buster - The union buster
aims to create a climate where the supervisor
feels personally threatened by the union - "I
knew that people who didn't feel threatened
wouldn't fight", Levitt confesses, "So through
hours of seminars, rallies, and one-on-one
encounters, I taught supervisors to despise and
fear the union.
I persuaded them that a union
organizing drive was a personal attack on them,
a referendum on their leadership skills, and an
attempt to humiliate them. I was friendly, even
jovial at times, but always unforgiving as I
compelled each supervisor to feel he was somehow
to blame for the union push and, consequently,
obliged to defeat it like any hostage - most
supervisors could not resist for long. They came
to see the fight through the eyes of their
captor and went to work wringing union
sympathies out of their workers". |
According to Marty Levitt, a key element
in any counter-organizing drive is to pit the
supervisors against the workers. We believe the
current press for the dealers to evaluate the Team
Leads is part of this ploy. We all know that most of
us are just dying to submit a harsh but honest
evaluation for those Team Leads who just aren't up to
snuff, for whatever reason.
Many of
us may want to give that excellent top notch Team Lead
a good review in order to ensure they don't lose their
jobs. We understand this desire but want to make it
very clear to everyone that this is part of
management's drive. When we submit bad feedback, it
will be presented to the supervisors. Some will
probably get fired.
Our
supervisors will be manipulated by management to
believe that it's their fault we are unionizing,
because of their shortcomings. They will have proof of
this if we fill out these evaluations. We cannot give
them what they want. There will be opportunities in
the future to submit our feedback about the Team
Leads. Now is not the time.
This issue was discussed at length by the
executive board of the IUGE and a group of
professionals. After much deliberation we have decided
that our best possible action is to take no action. We
politely and respectfully request all dealers to
abstain from these evaluations.
We urge
you to put away that emotion that you have just
waiting to burst for now. Remember, we are playing a
very difficult game of strategy with a highly
proficient group of individuals trained in the art of
manipulation. Their only motive is to prevent dealers
from forming a powerful organization that can stand
against them.
Fortunately we are a group of intelligent people armed
with an intimate knowledge of union-busting
techniques. Together, we will prevail.
Once again, please do not submit any
evaluations, good or bad. Thanks for your continued
support. We need each and every one of you, and we are
proud to have you with us.
This
message was written and distributed with the full
authorization, support, and endorsement of the IUGE
executive board.
*** |
