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This is a blog dedicated to the union organizing activity at HHT.
Rewards and consequences
I wanted to make an important point regarding some issues in the call center. It's come to my attention through some discussions with others and through my own observations that HHT is operating on a clear "reward and consequence" pattern. What do I mean by this? It's obvious. If you support HHT, then you will be rewarded. If you support organizing, then you will be punished.
You probably want some examples of these incidents. Clearly, there is a corner of the call center which has been tainted by the ramblings of a certain lead worker. This certain lead worker can pretty much decide who is going to be promoted to lead worker. Your chances go much further if you take an anti-union stance. The sad thing about this is two-fold. First, it undermines your ability to make an informed decision. Let me illustrate my point. When you go to polls to vote during a political election, do you a) make the decision on your own using your best judgement or b) vote because someone told you it's what they would do and without your understanding of the other side of the coin? These people do the later. They are like sheep than need a shepherd, who has been corrupted by the power of HHT. The other problem, which is equally important, is it's illegal. Oh, my god! He said illegal and why is this illegal? During an organizing campaing, if people are promised rewards, such as promotions to not support a union or vote no, then management and lead workers are breaking federal law under the National Labor Relations Act. You can alway choose not to support a union, but to be coerced to do this is a violation. Another example is how promotions are being done. It's pretty much like old school HHT is back. Give the promotions to the people that support HHT and let the others either live with it or quit. HHT would rather go outside the company than promote from within. Finally, after interviewing for a postion where I was told I was a good candidate, this Monday I was told the position was filled by an external candidate. No, really? I saw the clown walking around a few weeks ago. Support the union and get screwed. Again, this is a violation. For you that tried out for lead worker, you see how this game is played. Each of you were asked different interview questions. They know who they wanted before they opened the position up. Any question in HHT's mind that you are not 100% with HHT, then you will never see a promotion. Nothing has changed. Let's go back to earlier this year. A half-dozen people were questioned about their union sympathies. This is illegal. Let's go back to a couple years ago, people were fired trying to start a union. Again, this is illegal. HHT is still using lead workers as Gestapo to weed out any sympathies for organizing. They follow people into the bathrooms, go on "additional breaks" in the lunchroom to see if anyone is talking, walk around seeing who is congregating, etc. etc. Who do you think is going to swing when violations are filed. Management? Big John? Healthways? Nope...try lead workers. For the health advisors that have been violated, you have six-months from the date of the incident to file charges against HHT. Don't get confused. Would you let someone else violated your rights and then do nothing about it? Probably not. HHT wants you to quit. They are like vampire that suck the life out of you. They break you down until you conform. If you don't, they force you out. Open your eyes. Do not walk away from the opportunity to build this union, help your fellow health advisors, and ensure that when people walk into this place, they will want to stay longer than a few months. You have more power over HHT that you think. United we bargain, divided we beg. Like many of you, I'm tired of begging for scraps and hoping that things would get better. Don't piss this away. For you that want to stand up for yourselves: How to file a violation? (NLRB website) For you that still need to sign a card to gain recognition: Contact one of the organizing committee members (I always have cards), send in one of the cards that came through the mail, or contact Denny Dierker at 419-865-1341 or 1-800-232-8279 ext. 29. For you that have change addresses frequently (and haven't signed a card): Please contact Denny Dierker at the above number. You are missing out on the information being sent out on the campaign. Don't be in the dark when it comes to this opportunity. 2007-03-14 13:55:31 GMT
Comments (1 total)
Author:turnerwright@sbcglobal.net
Let's pray the Employee Free Choice Act is passed in the Senate and, by a miracle, signed by our good for nothing President. I will admit I have never been a worker in a union organizing drive, but I have been an organizer in a few and I have witnessed just what you are talking about. It is tough and I know that if we had a card-check organizing drive, we would have won several campaigns by now. If you can update me on your organizing efforts, I can have it announced on the radio here in Houston, Texas. I am involved in a radio program called, "Voices at Work!" on 90.1 FM on the Pacifica network. We are always announcing organizing campaigns over the air. Good luck to you and your co-workers! Turner Wright, IBEW 716
2007-03-19 03:24:40 GMT
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