Hidden Valley Lake >> From 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day for nearly three weeks now, union golf course workers have been picketing on strike without pay, claiming unfair labor practice against the Hidden Valley Lake Association (HVLA).
“They are obviously stressed, but they are holding strong and firm in their beliefs,” Laborers’ Local 324 Field Representative and Vice President George Griffin said. “Obviously, they are worried about their income, but they are still standing up for their rights and not just backing down.”
Problems began last year when contract negotiations between HVLA and Laborers’ Local 324 stalled. While HVLA and union representatives met several times, nothing was ever finalized, according to Griffin. The contract first expired on Oct. 31, then again on Dec. 3 after an extension was issued.
“All we want to do is get back on the table,” Griffin said about bringing the strike to an end.
Workers say that the association has refused to bargain in good faith, a claim backed by National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a neutral party responsible for dealing with allegations of unfair labor practices.
The union has filed a slew of claims with the NLRB against the HVLA, which were consolidated into one complaint and notice of hearing filed on April 30. In the document, the NLRB states, “Since about January 23, 2015, (HVLA) has failed and refused to bargain.”
The board thoroughly investigated each claim and both parties had the opportunity to present documentation and witnesses before filing the complaint, according to NLRB Supervisory Field Examiner Daniel Owens.
“At this point, there is enough evidence to show the employer has violated the National Labor Relations Act,” he said.
The union and association will have the opportunity present their evidence through witness testimony before an administrative law judge on June 15 in Santa Rosa.
“If the judge agrees in whole or in part, they will issue decision which can include specific orders to undue what it’s done and make certain affirmative obligations such as reimbursement for pay lost,” Owens said.
Other allegations in the document include suspending an employee because he “assisted the Union and engaged in concerted activities” and to discourage such activities. The association, the document continues, has failed to provide information necessary for the union employees to perform their duties. Additionally, the HLVA hired seasonal workers to perform union duties outside of the time frame allowed for hiring.
The document also states that HVLA General Manager Cindy Spears, “impliedly threatened employees with termination in retaliation for their Union activities,” in the maintenance shop on Jan. 27.
Multiple calls to Spears went unreturned as of press time.
Griffin estimated that union representatives tried at least 20 times to set up a new meeting date to discuss the contract before beginning the strike on April 21.
Since then, union workers have gathered about 200 signatures as of last count of Hidden Valley Lake homeowners making that very request.
The HVLA has yet to budge, however, and according to its Facebook page, staff and volunteers have taken it upon themselves to do jobs otherwise done by union workers, including striping the basketball court.
Griffin wants an injunction requiring the HVLA to open up for contract negotiations again, but Owens said that is not likely to happen right now.
“It could very well be that bargaining could be delayed for some time,” Owens said. “If evidence were presented which would show continuing violations doing irreparable harm, general counsel could request to seek injunction relief, just depending on how things develop … but at this point we are not seeking injunction relief.”
Owens said the claims are the NLRB general counsel’s findings, no decision is final until the case goes before a judge and even then either party can file an exception, further stalling a decision.
Griffin hopes the strike will end before the June hearing, as he said the workers don’t make enough money to hold out for too long, but he’s not certain it will happen.
“Hidden Valley Lake is trying to wait these guys out,” Griffin said. “Basically trying to starve them out. The longer they drag it out the weaker (union workers) get — that is what I believe is their intent. We want a fair contract in place, which is what we’ve been trying to do all along.”
