Striking fast and hitting hard: On September 9th, members expressed their objection to the company’s continued unlawful behavior by walking off the job in a “lightning strike.” Every single worker in the warehouse joined the picket line.
After months of battling the billionaire Koch brothers on the warehouse floor, in the streets and at the bargaining table, IBU members have reached an agreement with Koch-owned Georgia-Pacific at the Kelly Point warehouse in Portland.
As part of the national corporate attack on working families and unions, Georgia-Pacific made it clear early on they were out to gut the IBU members’ collective bargaining agreement at Kelly Point— including the erosion of health care benefits and the twisting of job rules to permit supervisors to fire people much more easily.
IBU members at Kelly Point decided last spring that it was time to step up and organize a campaign to defend their hard-won job
protections and benefits:
- On June 30th, IBU members coordinated a joint action with a local community coalition known as Portland Rising, which brought more than 150 chanting supporters to the Kelly Point parking lot, brandishing picket signs. At the same time, IBU members inside marched on their supervisor to demand that the company return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair contract.
- Several weeks later, the corporate customers who depend on receiving paper products from the Kelly Point warehouse—including COSTCO, Office Depot, Staples, and Target, and others— were notified by the union that Georgia- Pacific’s refusal to bargain fairly could have an unwelcome impact.
- On September 9th, members expressed their objection to the company’s continued unlawful behavior by walking off the job in a “lightning strike.” Every single worker in the warehouse joined the picket line, which was honored by several truck drivers and caused some serious disruption of shipping schedules. Members then quickly ended their action and returned to work before bosses could react.
- Soon after, Kelly Point employees marched once again on their supervisor to demand compensation for unpaid break time. Their action together forced managers to eventually comply and offer more break minutes as a remedy.
- In late October, IBU members leafleted customers at busy COSTCO stores in Hawai’i and Portland, which depend on supplies from the Kelly Point warehouse. Union members warned consumers about possible shortages of toilet paper and other Kirkland-brand paper products.
The Kelly Point workers decided to settle their contract with the company in October. They had secured their pensions, defeated company proposals to expedite termination of employees and hammered out terms for health care
benefits.
“We didn’t get everything we were pushing for, but we got more than we would have without a fight,” said Shawn McClary. “And for the first time, we all stood up together and did things as a group.”
“We learned a lot,” said Jose Flores. “I think all of us feel stronger and better prepared for the battles ahead.”