Workers from Pleasanton's Castlewood Country protest lockout

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14775081

By Lisa P. White
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 03/28/2010 04:19:05 PM PDT
Updated: 03/28/2010 04:19:05 PM PDT

PLEASANTON — Employees of the Castlewood Country Club marched Sunday morning to protest the ongoing lockout from their jobs.

More than 85 people joined the peaceful march organized by Unite Here!, Hospitality Workers Union Local 2850, which represents about 60 club employees, including cooks, servers and dishwashers, according to union spokeswoman Nischit Hegde.

Wei-Ling Huber, Local 2850 president, Sharon Cornu, executive secretary-treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council, and employees addressed the gathering of workers and their family members.

Management at the country club locked the employees out 32 days ago when the two sides could not agree on how much employees should pay for their health insurance. Under the union's proposal, employees who qualify for health benefits would pay $225 per month for family medical coverage. But management wants workers to pay $739 per month for a family, Hegde said. The contract expired in September.

A call to the country club Sunday was not immediately returned.

Locked out employees are living on savings, unemployment benefits and financial assistance from the union, according to Hegde.

[upi402]

1. THESE folks are heros to me

Sarah Palin gets the TV time, but that speaks volumes about the TV "news".