Whenever we talk about new or reformed unions, people sometimes ask who the leaders of these new unions will be and where they will come from. They will be workers like Darryl Gehlen and they will come from places that are part of the shameful legacy of biz-unionism, like the warehouse where he works.
Reading over his letters, I can't help but be struck by his grasp on what is needed and where the opportunities lie. He's hit a lot of nails squarely on the head.
Workers need to understand job losses as not just some unfortunate thing that is happening to them because the don't make bottom dollar. The public needs to understand what all this corporate maneuvering is about and how a lot of costs are getting passed on to consumers by companies that cry poor while getting rich. Other locals need to understand these corporate tactics and prepare to fight them in their own negotiations. Unions need to pull out all the stops to support members who are getting the shaft. The fact that these workers' situation is not known even to other members of the same local, is really deplorable. Unions need to stop squirming when their members are angry and want to express their anger. These workers want to get involved and get active - where is their union? Let's stop complaining about apathy.
Gehlen also understands the potential of the Internet. His comment that web sites like this one (MFD) will become the default communication venues for union members is probably more prophetic than he realizes. I think it's exactly what is going to happen. The mainstreamers won't provide the venues, so the members will come to sites like this. They'll start talking and create their own identity and their own organizations. Having never felt included in their biz-unions in the first place, it won't take long for them to say "so long".
MFD May Day Special: Worker goes to bat for laid off Brothers
MFD May Day Special - Worker goes to bat for laid off Brothers
"In times of labour peace we are told "THE MEMBERS ARE THE UNION". In times of conflict we are kept in the dark." - Darryl Gehlen, Member, UFCW Local 1518, Warehouse Worker
Earlier this month 250 workers at Loman's warehouse in Langley BC were served with layoff notices. Their employer handles warehousing for Overwaitea Food Group supermarkets. OFG will not be renewing its contract with Loman's and will be taking its business to another company.
The warehouse workers are members of UFCW Local 1518. In 1992, after OFG farmed out its warehousing business to Loman's, Local 1518 and Loman's signed a 10-year collective agreement. Two years ago Lomans tried to reopen that deal and get concessions. The members said, "no thanks". OFG began looking for another warehouse operator. Now, with their 10-year deal is about to expire, OFG has announced that it will not be renewing its contract with Lomans and is taking its business to a US-based firm called Excel Logistics.
The UFCW has filed an application with the BCLRB claiming that Loman's should be declared a successor employer to OFG back to when it took over the warehousing operation in 1992. The union is alleging that the two companies are closely connected. The outcome of the LRB proceedings won't be known for some time - most likely after the workers' employment terminates on September 28th.
They're angry at both the company which some believe put itself in an uncompetitive position by managing poorly and at their union which they feel is distancing itself from them at a time when they need its support the most.
Darryl Gehlen is one of the workers at the warehouse. He's speaking out about what's going on. In a series of letters to his fellow workers, his Chief Steward and the President of Local 1518, he advocates communication among workers, the union and the public to raise awareness of the real issues behind this layoff.
Workers, Gehlen says, should not lose sight of the fact that their work is not going away. The warehousing business is quite lucrative and they are losing their jobs because of corporate maneuvering. The union should be doing its utmost to expedite the LRB proceedings and Stewards and union officials should be quick to respond to workers' requests for information. Workers should be kept in the loop about meetings between union and company lawyers dealing with the successor rights application. Consumers also need to be educated about the impact of this kind of maneuvering on them.
In a straight-talking letter to Brooke Sundin, President of Local 1518, Gehlen points to the importance of raising awareness of what is happening at the warehouse within the union itself and in the labour community. He speaks about the willingness of the workers to get the word out and how easily this could be accomplished and wonders why the union appears to be distancing itself from them.
During the recent leafleting it became clear that the retail sector has little or no awareness of the facts regarding our situation at the warehouse and, as you may understand, we find this unacceptable... Communication between Industrial and Retail sectors must certainly be a key element in not only our strategy but in alerting retail to what we are trying to achieve and how this will aid their own upcoming battles.
In this day and age I simply cannot see any excuse for communication being an issue. Why every union member in this province is not aware of what is going on at the warehouse is beyond me.
You should remember that we are a mature, well-educated workforce and many of us are financially able to withstand a protracted battle. Many of us are prepared to get the word out with or without you. The information age has brought with it the corporate doublespeak that has characterized the working person as nothing more than another disposable commodity as we at the warehouse are well aware. It has also brought the means to publicize to whom, by whom, where, and why this is happening. I suggest you are failing to recognize and act on this opportunity and that this also fuels concerns that you are distancing yourselves from the warehouse.
Gehlen comments at length about the potential of the Internet and how some web sites are more worker-friendly than others. Thanks Darryl. We'll do what we can to help you communicate and educate.
This is an important issue that needs airing. I hope Local 1518 members come together at this site and use it as a meeting place to discuss issues and solutions. This site can be home base.
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This is an important issue that needs airing.
The machine has done nothing to make anyone aware in my workplace. The company is discontinuing 250 members/jobs and it's just one damn giant secret. 
If the machine was confident about winning the argument before LRB, it would be preparing the members in the stores for the possibilty of pickets in front of the workplace. 
More solidarity ufcw style. 
It's odd, but if an individual contracts with an employer and others, that individual may be called an independent contractor. If the individual does work only for one employer, that individual may be called a [dependent contractor[/b]. If the employer exercises too much control over a dependent contractor, the tax department calls the individual an employee.
That's a tough argument to make with corporations, though. I think Local 1518 tried that in BC with IGA and lost, but Local 175 tried it with, perhaps, A&P and won.
These Loman guys won't achieve anything through conventional means. They need the backing of the BC Fed affilliates. They were there for Superior Poultry, where are they for Lomans? Have they even been approached for their support?
Hey, and don't forget, you still have the UFCW convention in Vancouver and the CLC convention the following week. Either they show a whole lot of support, or you show the world how useless it is belonging to a Voice for Working America.
Daryll You Speak truths . where were you 12 years ago when the foundation of this highway to Un employement was being laid?. Glad to see You have finally seen thru the fog of UFCW double speak and Outright lies? Ivan and Brooke have sweeheart dealed these 250 Jobs out the door, for the sake of appeasing The almighty OFG, and Smoothing a road to a deal for the retail employees. Thats it, Its that simple. The fact that the Union has distanced them selves from the members, to the point of negligence should be a wake up call to the members that they will have to educate, and fight for their jobs them sleves, without the backing of the UFCW . From recent conversations with save On staff members I have been informed , That yes word Of the plight of the lomans employees has begun to reach their ears BUT they are being told BY their Union BA and stewards that This will in no way affect the stores, That Picket lines will never be in front stores and they will not lose 1 hr of employment to the lomans dispute. It will be business as usual. Why? I ask are not every trailer full of goceries sent to a UFCW store from EV Logistics Not declared A hot load and refused to be unloaded Its Because we have already been sold out
Hi T S 
What is happening at the warehouse these last couple days?
Rumour has it that you all talked Ivan into an invite for one of your shop stewards to go to the gala at Harrison Hot Springs this week. Hope his folder was full of questions. (sure it is).
I'm an amployee at Lomans and one of the members who called Ivan about why brother Carter was de-invited to the retail stewards meeting. Ivan told me that the meeting didn't really concern us as it was a "Retail" stewards meeting..Yeah Right!
We informed him we would be crashing the meeting with 50 -60 members if they didn't re-invite him. They have since reversed their desicion and Brother Carter will address the retail Stewards.
During some of our leafleting of the stores last week, we were told by some retail members that their hours were being cut as a direct result of our leafleting and they were losing hours because of us! The international should be flooding these places with BA's and explain to thses guys that OWFG is the enemy, not the workers from Lomans...Where is the solidairity?
Ivan and Brook should be working very hard to geet that message across...so far they don't seem to be. Ivan told me we have to fight this battle in the courts.
What?....and just move ahead quietlt like lambs to the slaughter?
"What OFG giveth. OFG might taketh away" seems to be the fear that the UFCW hath.
OFG can just call up CLAC whenever the UFCW gets uppity.
Have the buggers ever heard of goin' down fighting? The courts won't be the saviour, but direct action will.
And the UFCW wonders why no one wants to join their pittiful mess.
http://www.ufcw1518.com/
Day 2 of the retail conference. Ivan Addressed the crowd, Brook Addresed the Crowd.
NOT ONE Word about Lomans.
Not a word.
Lots of Pictures...I didn't see Gord Carter in any of them.
Whats with that?
Is he wearing a rug?
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Lots of Pictures...I didn't see Gord Carter in any of them
Geez I hope you guys told him not to go in the hot tub by himself. 
Considering they didn't really want him there in the first place I really doubt they'll let him talk. Also it might be a plan to have the hotel staff keep check on his room. 
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Is he wearing a rug?
Looks more like the rug is wearing him.
Gord Carter will be attending the stewards meeting in Harrison. He left this morning (Wed)and will be speaking Friday morning.Or so we've been told.
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Gord Carter will be attending .... and will be speaking Friday morning
Ah, they must be saving the best for last. Friday is when the gala winds down. People are checking out 'fore noon. How fast can Gord talk?
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We informed him we would be crashing the meeting with 50 -60 members if they didn't re-invite him.
Why would you not go to the meeting anyway???? I'm off Fri [tommorrow] if you really have that kind of support I'll go with you. If you've got the balls to fight these back stabbers I'll be right beside you.
This union wants to cut you loose and Carter as I remember was a big Sundin supporter. Letting him speak for you is like not going at all as far as I'm concerned. Carter is the same guy who was on the election committee and voted to refuse our putting yap straps on the ballot boxes and signing our names to them to prevent tampering. This is same guy who voted against us time and time again making our run at the "Action team" harder than it should have been. Now his beloved leaders have stabbed you all in the back. Is he really going to stick up for you now? or is he going to get a union job before the warehouse closes like certain others have in the past?
I'll check back tonight and see if people still want to crash the party [because that's all this smoke and mirrors show really is] you have a right to be there your paying for it. GO! To hell with a leadership group that stayed in power because of a rigged election, and to hell with an appointed sect-tres...make yourselves heard. Go down swinging or stop complaining.
Geez, what a close knit group ufcw members are. Solidarity does not run rampant in ufcw 1518 does it? Do you think it's in our union upbringing? Do you think it has everything to do with leadership?
United we stand, divided they prosper. 
I have tomorrow off as well. 
I hear theres a Strike Vote Monday and we're walkin.
Strike vote?
Who? (overwaitea obviously )
Where?
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I hear theres a Strike Vote Monday and we're walkin.
Yeah, well I hear a whole bunch of folks are boycotting Save-on-foods.
That's a good idea!
I only heard last night. Will find out more today.
Word is "Strike Vote" next Monday for the warehouse, and we are shutting it down before Overwaitea has a chance to bring the new warehouse into full operation. I beleive if we go now, we have a chance.
1518 should have made the case of common employer years ago instead of leaving it so as to not piss OFG off. That's what would have given you the best chance. It was negligent for them not too pursue that and now the "decision" will be too little to late. I think if you guys can you should shut it down early. At the very least your going down on your own terms and not those of the employers and unions. Further, if there is something untoward going on to sabatoge equipment and make you guys look bad it would nip that in the bud as well. Who'd want to hire an employee from Lomans with that kind of track record? Just something to think about.
Is it true that OFG has begun the transition of its' business from its' OFG/Lomans location to its' EV logistics location in a bigger way?
Recent rumours have the product orders, for 12 retail stores, coming out of EV logistics only. That's a big bite out of OFG/Lomans' work.
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posted by siggy:
Is it true that OFG has begun the transition of its' business from its' OFG/Lomans location to its' EV logistics location in a bigger way?
Recent rumours have the product orders, for 12 retail stores, coming out of EV logistics only. That's a big bite out of OFG/Lomans' work.
I would like to hear more about what's going on with Lomans. What's this about a Monday Strike? Is it a go or what? What kind of impact is expected? Is it too late? Why is the information flowing so slowly at this point?
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Is it too late?
Ask local 1518.
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Why is the information flowing so slowly at this point?
You should ask local 1518 this too.