We had an incredible victory in the picket line last week. Here's the story:
As many of you know, things were coming to a crisis on the picket line at the Holiday Inn Express in Latham. Even though Jim Morrell signed a settlement with the NLRB n February promising to give the strikers' their jobs back and hold a rerun election, and though a week later he announced he had hired a new manager so that the hotel wasn't bound by his agreement, the NLRB was poised to rule that Morrell's breach of their agreement was OK with the NLRB. We've withdrawn the complaints to preserve our right to refile them when Obama gets his appointment on the National Board settled in.
Around the time it began coming clear that the NLRB was going to rule for Morrell, the police at the picket line began to get pretty aggressive. A number of times early in the morning and late at night when the strikers were out alone or in small numbers, the police threatened them with arrest for using the bullhorn. It became clear to me that I had to challenge them on this, and I asked the ALF to join me.
So the plan was that I would start being on the picket line early and late with the bullhorn, and that a number of our incredible, assume, better-than-sliced-bread local labor leaders would later join me in an act of civil disobedience during which we would all be arrested. The list includes:
Kathleen Scales
Prairie Wells
Mary Sullivan
Jeff Stark
Kevin Eitzmann
Bill Eggleston
Tom Comanzo
Dom Patrignani
Lee Eck
Kathleen Sims
Kathy Garrison
Frank Natalie
Alicia Ortiz
The strikers and I spent a fair amount of time this week and last with me using the bullhorn in the AM and PM. The police were called every time, but seemed unwilling to arrest me. Finally Tuesday night, a pair of the police showed up and threatened me with arrest if I didn't stop using the bullhorn. I explained that I wouldn't stop, and eventually one of them cuffed me. I was psyched, because it looked like we would finally be able to call the question on the first amendment issue. Then, however, they let me go and we waited for the shift sergeant to come by. When he got there he explained that we were free under the 1st amendment to use the bullhorn as long as it wasn't outside the noise ordinance hours (7AM-10PM weekdays, 7AM-11PM weekends). We got it all on video. I then explained that I appreciated them doing the right thing, but that I was concerned that after I left some of the police might again threaten the strikers with arrest for using the horn. He assured me that that wouldn't happen and that he would see to it that some kind of directive was put out to all shifts making that clear.
And... SO FAR SO GOOD! the police have been by many times since Tuesday but have been very friendly to the strikers. So I want to thank the Colonie police for doing the right thing and putting up with whatever pressure they must be under from within the hotel.
But beyond that, I want to extend my most heart felt thanks to the labor folks who were prepared to get arrested. It is a pleasure and an honor to work with so many truly dedicated leaders. I know that I and all the workers in the Capital District are truly blessed to have such trade unionists among us.
Rev. Mike Roberts
Albany District Director
Rochester Regional Joint Board of Workers United
