AT&T Park workers authorize strike

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

AT&T Park concession workers overwhelmingly voted Saturday to give their union the authority to call a strike, a union representative said.

The workers voted 500 to 16 before and after Saturday's home game against the Atlanta Braves to give Unite Here Local 2 representatives the bargaining tool, said Nischit Hegde, a spokeswoman for the union.

Workers will not immediately strike, but instead wait to see how South Carolina concession management firm Centerplate responds to the vote, Hegde said.

"People are very serious about what they need, and they want to be taken seriously, and I think a 97 percent authorization vote displays how serious they are," Hegde said.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/AT-amp-T-Park-workers-authorize-strike-4508724.php

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Well, "strike" in "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" has a whole new meaning now, as does the "peanuts and Cracker Jacks" line.

[NBachers]

1. A lot of anti-union, anti-worker comments in the SFGate linked article

[ForgoTheConsequence]

2. Typical.

Its easier to blame the guy/gal doing the work than it is to blame the people responsible.

It wasn't the bankers, ceo's, greedy wall street bastards who wrecked the economy it was the guy/gal who dared demand a living wage and a dental plan. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain, it was your fellow American who is living large on 15 bucks an hour who is to blame. If only we could all be more like the Chinese and be willing to work for pennies.

[demosincebirth]

6. Amen to that, bro.

[onehandle]

3. Professional operatives post links to RW websites to encourage them to comment in stories like this.

To make it seem like they are the majority of opinion out there.

I believe that newspapers should do away with comments attached to stories.

[Proletariatprincess]

5. There are always a lot of anti union, anti worker comments there...

It makes me angry because I life in SF and this is a strong union town. The comments on our hometown paper don't reflect the views of the people here. I think they hire corporate thugs to troll the site.

[demosincebirth]

8. I think what they read about most is the negotiation that are are starting with workers at BART. Now

those are very well paid workers with conditions some of us would call excessive. On the other hand that's a public transit and people must use it. It's called collective bargaining with an unlimited supply of money.

[CreekDog]

13. SFGate comments don't reflect the most liberal area of the country

they are heavily trolled.

routinely things and people are mocked on the SFGate comments page that are voted for in elections by large margins.

[Omaha Steve]

14. Don't forget there are people paid to do that!

I wonder who is behind that?

[Peace Patriot]

4. GO GIANTS SUPPORT WORKERS!

Big Giants fan here! But the huge rich/poor gap in the baseball industry is disgraceful and I totally support whatever the poor workers have to do to improve their wages, benefits and working conditions. As in everything else, the few are making money hand over fist, while the many are struggling for the bare essentials of life.

Even if they have to shut down some games!

And I hope the players support them! I would love to see Buster Posey and friends walking the picket line with the janitors and food servers!

-------------------------

"South Carolina concession management firm"? What the hell is a South Carolina corporation doing dictating to workers in California? And, according to the article, this flak Gina Antonini, speaking for the corporation, promises they will use strikebreakers ("the stadium concessions would be staffed by management and other employees&quot to bust the union!

Giants management is at fault, too, for failing to guarantee a contract, failing to back up their lowest paid workers and failing to get rid of this dinosaur corporation, "Centerplate," at least so far (if the article is accurate).

[Omaha Steve]

7. K&R!

[juliacarrie]

9. Sign the petition of support to the workers!

I'm an organizer with this campaign. We have a community petition on our website www.thegiantzero.org if folks want to send a message of support! (Click the "Take Action" button on the right)

Solidarity!

[NBachers]

12. I signed- Every time I read "Centerplate of Spartanburg, SC" I think, "Something's wrong here"

It sounds like the standard "each party blaming the other" between the Giants and Centerplate of Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Why is Centerplate of Spartanburg, South Carolina determining what our local concession workers get paid?

I'm in San Francisco. Am I deciding to lower the wages of anyone in Spartanburg, South Carolina? No.

Welcome to Democratic Underground, Julia. One suggestion: Instead of the "Take Action" button, why not have it directly say, "Sign the Petition?"

[juliacarrie]

17. Thanks!

I'll see what I can do on the website.

[Omaha Steve]

10. Another card

[Brother Buzz]

11. Keep those cards coming

I want the entire 500 card collector set.

[Omaha Steve]

15. Another card by request

[Brother Buzz]

16. Cool Beans!

[Omaha Steve]

18. Another card

More on the way.