On March 25, Ginger Christ, unit chair of the Plain Dealer News Guild, spoke to America’s Work Force about the expected layoffs coming up in April.
Christ, who has worked for the Plain Dealer News Guild for three years, talked about how starting April 1, there will be 14 people laid off from their jobs at the News Guild with no warning of who it may be. Since they will not be given any warning as to who may be losing their jobs, they are not able to properly prepare themselves to look for work or look for another job just in case. Christ then went on to explain why she feels as if this is a union busting move, given that members in the News Guild are in fact part of a union.
Transportation Trades Department Secretary Treasurer Greg Regan spoke with AWF about union busting legislation that is being discussed about a union de-certification process. This directly attacks the freedom of association among employees, which allows any individual to join, or leave a union voluntarily.
The third guest on the March 25 edition of AWF was Chair of Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition, Mary Ann Trasciatti. Trasciatti talked about the Triangle ShirtWaist Fire in New York City back in 1911. She told the story about how it happened, how poor work conditions led to the demise of 146 workers, mainly women and immigrants, and also how the owners were found not guilty in a trial following the catastrophe. Now, Trasciatti is working with a landmark preservation committee to put up a landmark in honor of those who lost their lives in the accident and to honor the spaces of working people.
AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc discussed the National Labor Relations Board story of an Amazon worker employee being fired after giving a speech about the poor working conditions and ridiculously overwhelming workload the employees endure.