For Labor Peace at the World Trade Center
The World Trade Center, an office tower in a prime location at the
foot of Canal Street, sits on land owned by the City of New Orleans.
The bottom eighteen floors are to be converted into a Crowne Plaza hotel.
Both the city, as owner of the land, and the World Trade Center, as
owner of the building, expect to share annual rent and a percentage
of the net income from the hotel operation- City officials, the World
Trade Center and the hotel's developers are currently at the "critical
and sensitive" stage of three-way negotiations over the provisions
of a long-term lease.
The City of New Orleans will, in effect, be a major partner in the
hotel with a clear financial stake and ongoing proprietary interest
in its success and smooth operation. Acting on behalf of residents and
taxpayers, the city has a right and obligation to maximize revenues
and protect its investment. To avoid the sort of disruptions that often
accompany union organizing campaigns -management threats and intimidation
tactics, firing of union supporters, picketing, low employee morale,
lengthy litigation, consumer boycotts and strikes - city negotiators
are seeking a "Labor Peace" provision in the lease agreement.
Under Labor Peace, the employer and the union lay out boundruies to
ensure that workers can choose whether or not to form a union in a fair
environment.
The employer agrees to remain neutral and to recognize the union if
a majority of eligible employees sign cards or petitions authorizing
the union to represent
them. A neutral third party counts and verifies workers' signatures.
The union pledges not to disrupt business operations, Both parties agree
not to intimidate or coerce employees in making a choice that is rightfully
theirs alone to make.
It was just such a neutrality/card check process that finally brought
seven years of bitter and costly workplace conflict to a win-win conclusion
at Avondale Shipyards. Starwood Hotels, the parent of Crowne Plaza,
recently agreed to Labor Peace covering a new convention center hotel
to be built in Boston.
We are marching today to give our encouragement and support to city
officials as they pursue a just and sensible public policy course --
Labor Peace at the World
Trade Center.
Addional Information here>>
|
