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Rally Kicks Off Picketing at the
Spot Bar in International Falls
by Larry Sillanpa /
April 20 2005 issue of Labor World
UNITE HERE Local 99 took
their frustrations with Bill Fisher, new owner of the Spot Bar in International
Falls, to the street last Friday. By
7:30 the community had gotten behind the workers and their union to the
point that Fisher closed his restaurant because he had no business.
"Our rally in
International Falls went better than I could have imagined," said
Local 99 Business Rep. Todd Erickson. Fisher bought the restaurant last January
and has refused to sign a union contract or have any discussion with the
union. He has verbally abused his staff and stated that he may have to
terminate all union employees if that is what it takes to get rid of the
union.
Larry (Skinny) and Laura
Hansen own the UNITE HERE-affiliated Outpost Saloon right across the street
from the Spot. They allowed their parking lot to be used to stage the
rally.
"We spoke about
workers rights and the injustice of what happened to these workers since
Fisher bought the facility and decided he could make the decision about
whether or not it would be union," said Erickson. "People in International
Falls weren't about to let someone come into their town (from Mora, where
he owns a Ford dealership) and fire a worker for wearing a union pin."
That's what Fisher did
to 4-year employee Heather Caple after he refused to sign a contract with
the union. Caple spoke at the rally about how she now sees exactly what a
union can do for a worker even though she was a union supporter before.
Fisher had called a
meeting of his workers to try to get them to sign a document that they
didn't want a union so he could run it in the local paper. His effort
failed.
Bob Walls, Business Rep.
for IAW W-33 spoke about unions staying strong and supporting each other.
That's exactly what happened as 60 people, like Walls many of them from the
nine unions at Boise Cascade's paper mill, showed up for the rally and
picket.
"We started to walk
the line when the restaurant opened at 5:00p.m.," said Erickson.
"Two employees would not cross and go to work. All of the reservations
canceled and Fisher closed the doors by 7:30 p.m. on a Friday night! It was
awesome. Our biggest problem was we didn't have enough signs for the
turnout."
Erickson said if Fisher
doesn't sign a contract the union is going to put up a permanent picket
line on Friday, May 13 to kick-off the fishing opener.
"This community is
strong and behind us," he said. "I was never more proud as a
union rep than I was on Friday. I know we have one of the strongest union
towns in America. Other bar owners showed up to show their support and
Dominos donated pizzas."
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