97-1110Council File # ���p
GITY OF SAINT
Presented by
Referred To
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C11:Zl7\�IY��J
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2 WHEREAS, Federal law protects employees' rights to form or join a union; and
Green Sheet # 3 C� '/ `/6
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3 WHEREAS, many employers interfere with employees' efforts to exercise their right to unionize by threatening
4 to close their faciliries, to fire union acfivists, or to otherwise retaliate against them, or in some cases by carrying
5 out these threats; and
6 WI�EREAS, many employers engage in vlgorous campaigns against their employees' efforts to unionize when
7 the decision is properly one for the workers to make themselves; and
8 WFIEREAS, as a result of employer's intrusion into the employee's decision, employees are often deprived of
9 an oppoxtunity to choose a union free from intnnidation or coercion; and
10 WI�REAS, employers often stail or delay the proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, which
11 are intended to aliow employees an expeditious means of selecting a union to represent them; and
12 WIiEREAS, unions provide employees with a voice on the job, encourage job innovation, and productivity
13 growth; and
14 WI�EREAS, unionized employees generally earn more than their non-union counterpart, and contribute to the
15 economic vitality of our communities; and
16 WHEREAS, unions have contributed to the growth of democracy, the well-being of America's working
17 families, and our communiries generally;
18 RESOLVED, that we support the efforts of working people in our community who seek to unionize to better
19 their conditions of employment; and
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1 THEREFORE, BE IT FUR'I`I�R RESOLVED, that we calt on all employers within our community to
2 provide their employees the opporhxnity to choose whether to unionize or not, free from infvnidation or
3 coercion; and
4 BE TT FURTAER RESOLVED, that, to the end, we call on all employers to stay out of their employees'
5 decision by clearly communicating to their employee that the employer is neutral on their choice, and will deal
6 fairly with any union that they may select; and
7 BE TT FUR'I'HER RESOLVED, that we call on all employers to abide by their employees' decision to be
8 represented by a union by engaging in card-check election and thereby a�oiding the delays and legai
9 maneuverings that accompany NLRB election processes.
Requested by Departznent of:
Adopted by Council: Date ��7�_����g`1
Adoprion Certified by Council Secretary
By:
Approv b} ayor: Dat 7
By:
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Form Approved by City Attorney
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Apgroved by Mayor for Submission to Council
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�t'1 •t��n
c�� n�� 9/3/97 GREEN SHEE N_ 36446
CONTACT PERSON 8 PNONE INfTIAVDATE INRIAUDATE
O DEPARiMENT DIRECiOR � CITY CAUNCIL
Dave Tizune 266-8620 ��r'N OcmaTroR�r �CtttCLERK
MUST 8E ON fAUNCILACaENOA BY (�ATE) AU O gUDGEf DIRECfOR � FIN. & MGi SERVICES OIR.
ORDEN � MqYOR (Ofl ASSISTANT� �
TOTAL # OP SIGNATURE PAGES � (CLIP ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE)
ACfION REQUESTED:
Support for the right to organize:
FECOMMENDAnoNS: Approva (A) or Rqect (R) PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS MUST ANSWER TNE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
_ PINJNING CAMM�SSION _ GIVIL SEFVICE COMMISSION �� Has this person/firm ever worketl under a coMract for this department?
_ CIB COMMITCEE _ YES NO
��� 2. Has this perso�rm ever been a city employee?
— YES NO
_ DISTRtC7 CAURT _ 3. Does Mis person/Firm possess a 5ki11 not normall ossessed '+
y D by any cunem city empioyee.
$UPPORTSWNIC47CAUNCILOB.IECTIVE? YES NO
Explain all yes answers on separete Shcet antl attaeh to green sheet
INITIATING PROBLEM, ISSUE, OPPORTUNITY (Who, W�et, Whan, Whera, Why).
Oppo�tunity to show support to working people's right to organize.
ADVANTAGESIFAPPpOVED:
The City wi11 be on record supporting workers` rights.
DISADVANTAGES IF APPROVED:
None.
OISADVANTAGES IF NOTAPPROVED:
The City will be silent on this important issue.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION S COS7/pEVENUE BUDGETED (CIRCLE ONE) YES NO
FUNDIHG SOUBCE ACTIVITY NUMBER
FINANCIAL INFOFMATION: (EXPLAIN)
ST. PAUL TRADES & LABOR ASSEMBLY a�-����
UNION ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER
411 Main Street, Suite 4i3-416, St. Paul, MN 55102
Assembly (612) 222-3787 Union Advocate (612) 227-0106
Fax (612) 293-1989
Louis Greengard, President
August 26 1997
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Jaye Rykunyk, Secretary-Treasurer Gordy Struss, Vice President
•�,
Councii President Daue Thune
Room 31QB City F3a11 15W
Kelloge Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
Dear Dave,
Since the passage of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, workers aczoss the country
have had the right to join unions and Uazgain collectively. Under Minnesota law, both private
and public sector workers are guaranteed organizing and collective hargaining rights.
It is no secret, howev�r, that many workers rights are being violated by a�owing number
of employers who aze talting aggressive steps to discouiage union organizing and collective
bazgaining efforts. Based on an analysis of the Nationai Labor Relations Act, the ratio of
workers fired for joining unions grew from one in forty six workers in 1960 to one in nine
in 1989. Most recent statistics show there aze over 2,000 employees illegally discharged
every yeaz for participating in a union organizing camp:ugn.
These facts do not speak weil for the economic future of the I3ation or for the sun ival of
democraey in America. Interfering tivith workers freedom to join a union of their cl�oice
has long been inteipreted as a sign of erosion of democracy.
For wotkers and husiness to reach their fuli potential it requires Labor Management
Cooperation. This can only be achieved if workers hace the confidence and sense of
security that strong and well enforced organizing and bargaining rights inspire.
As a publie leader, your voice is important to developing a hazassment free en�•ironment
for workers.
F9�:L���:YD_3�_1.TSF'A!7_17�:il�:ll�
BOARD MEMBERS: DICK ANFANCa, CLEfE GLASSING, BERNIE HESSE, DONNA HOGAN, GERALD McDONOUGH, LUCY flOBINSON, JOHN WILKING
TRUSTEES: GARY LOTHENBACH, KELLIE MILLER, pICHApD SAVARD
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Attached is a Right to Organize resolulion designed to reaffirni existing state and federal
law protecting workers rights to form or join a union. We ask that the St. Paul City
Council conside: and unaninlousl� pass this resoiution and send a cicar messa2e io all
that St. Paut suppons working people and their choice to unionize.
Thank vou for vour assistance, Dave.
Sin ely,
J
��/J
ouis Cxreengard
President, St. Paul Trades And Labor Assembly
cc:Citv Council Members