ILWU members and staff turned out to support locked-out workers at the Castlewood Country Club on Sunday, November 21 in Pleasanton, CA. (L-R) Bob Arce of Local 6, Secretary-Treasurer Patric Kim of Local 75, Ron Zampa of Local 6, Albie McCarthy of Local 75, Carey Dahl of Local 6 and Charley Lincoln of Local 10.
ILWU members have some experience with employer lockouts, including the 10-day Longshore lockout in 2002 and the 104-day lockout by Rio Tinto against the families in Boron. But a lockout that lasts 9 months is different, which is the challenge facing dozens of workers at the Castlewood Country Club in the Bay Area suburb of Pleasanton, about one hour from San Francisco.
ILWU members joined a solidarity effort with the Castlewood workers on Sunday, November 21, marching a mile and a half from downtown Pleasanton to the country club golf course.
“Several of us from Local 75 came to support these workers and show the Club management that we’re standing with the locked-out employees,” said Patric Kim, Local 75 Secretary Treasurer who came with co-worker Albie McCarthy.
Local 10 member Charley Lincoln marched with a contingent of Local 6 members that included Pedro de Sa, Carey Dahl, Ron Zampa and Bob Arce.
A carload of Local members from Boron had confirmed they would drive 6 hours to attend the event, but they were turned back because of an early winter storm that brought snow to the high desert and mountain passes.
Workers refused demands for health care concessions
While most members of the Castlewood Country Club are well-to-do, it’s another story for the workers who serve the food, wash the dishes and clean restrooms at the Club. Workers were told to give up health care benefits for their families. A survey of other private clubs in the area revealed that a majority provide health care benefits to workers and their families, but that didn’t stop management from claiming that deep cuts were needed to “stay competitive.” When workers refused to meet the club’s health care concessions, they found themselves locked- out. After 270 days without work, employees have toughened themselves for a long fight by organizing a campaign that includes:
Direct support for the locked-out families. At the November 21 march, an appeal from a retired firefighter who passed a hat, gathered $1400 in a few minutes from the assembled marchers. Food drives and other fundraising are helping the families survive.
• Labor outreach efforts are mobilizing union members in Northern California to attend events and support the families.
• An interfaith support network is involving leaders and congregations of many faiths.
• Political outreach and organizing. California State Assembly member-Nancy Skinner marched with the families on November 21. Other elected officials are passing resolutions and sending letters of concern to the Club management.
• Strategic research is identifying ways to put pressure on the Club. Some meetings and golfing events have already been canceled because of the lockout.
• Communicating directly with members of the Club via newsletter is allowing locked-out workers to tell their side of the story