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News :: Labor |
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Paramilitary Groups Hired to Bust Illinois Unions |
Current rating: 0 |
by Union Watch
Email: gordonjd266 (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified!) |
23 Nov 2005
Modified: 08:13:09 PM |
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In the small town of Meredosia, Celanese Corp has hired the paramilitary group Special Response Corp. to harass locked out union members. |
When the multi-national Celanese Corp purchased the local chemical plant in Meredosia, they immediately began demanding concessions from the union members of Boilermakers Local 484. Celanese made some token offers and proceeded to lockout the workers after they asked for a contract extension to continue negotiations. Since that time, Celanese has hired the Special Response Corporation, which is a self-proclaimed union busting security force. They have fliers touting their ability to arrive on scene with a force of 200 personnel and security vehicles in 24 hours. What's even more disturbing, SRC is on the payroll of the Department of Homeland Security and has access to databases and background information to "fight the war on terror."
While Celanese and SRC claim to be protecting company property, SRC personnel are video-taping the picket lines, union members in the community and even in their backyards. Furthermore, they are using these tapes to file injunctions against 484 to prevent them from picketing effectively. In addition, the Morgan County Sheriff's Office seems to be in league with SRC and is providing officers to monitor the area for 70 dollars an hour.
Sadly, this is not happening in China or Russia but here in Illinois. Illinois has some of the better labor laws in the country and yet this is still happening. The union members of Local 484 need our help. Check out their site: http://www.lockout484.org/story.html |
See also:
http://www.lockout484.org/story.html
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