"Airport concessionaire HMSHost accused of labor violations"

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Airport workers get NLRB backing in claims of union busting
BY PAUL NOWELL
The Associated Press


CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Airport restaurant workers, backed by local labor leaders,
said Wednesday they were gratified that a federal labor panel has backed
their claims of union busting by their managers.

The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint last month against
HMSHost, charging that several managers at Charlotte/Douglas International
Airport engaged in unfair labor practices, including threats to fire
pro-union workers or to cut their benefits.

A spokesman for Bethesda, Md.-based HMSHost did not immediately return a
message left at his office on Wednesday.

UNITE HERE has been trying to organize about 700 HMSHost workers at
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport since the fall.

"When the union campaign began, employees were very excited to join," said
Elisa Canas, a cashier at a California Pizza Kitchen. "But ever since the
company started harassing us, writing us up and threatening people, now many
workers are too afraid to speak up.

"But we won't be afraid. This investigation gives us hope."

Under a contract with the city, HMSHost operates about 60 restaurants and
shops at the airport. A division of the Italian conglomerate Autogrill
Group, the firm operates concessions at about 70 airports around the world.

AFL-CIO president James Andrews attended the news conference to support the
workers.

"You are not violating the law. HMSHost is violating the law," he told the
workers, who earn less than $8 an hour.

"This company openly and willfully violated the law by intimidating and
harassing these workers by telling them if you don't stop this union stuff
you will be on the street," Andrews said, urging them to: "Hold solid."

While the NLRB complaint does not constitute guilt, union leaders welcomed
it.

"This company lied and cheated and broke the law," said David Hill, a UNITE
HERE organizer. "We want them to know this (union drive) is going to
happen."

An administrative law judge will hear the case in April.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************