Amid increasing labor unrest at Pomona College after it fired 17 workers last week for not having proper documents, the National Labor Relations Board has leveled charges against the College for violating federal labor law. On Wednesday, the UNITE HERE Local 11 food service and restaurant workers union released a statement announcing that the National Labor Relations Board has officially issued a complaint against Pomona College, “charging it with violating federal labor law in connection with the dining hall workers’ unionization drive.”
Pictures of the 17 fired workers on display at last week's protest (photo by Arielle Zionts PZ '14)
The complaint concerns the College’s alleged refusal in September to promote former chef and Worker’s for Justice leader Christian Torres because he wore a pro-union button to work. The College allegedly only offered him a promotion in exchange for him removing the button from his uniform.
In the UNITE HERE statement, Torres, who was among the 17 employees fired last week, says, “We should all be treated equally when considered for promotions, regardless of our support for a union. The administration is creating a feeling of intimidation and isolation by doing these things.”
The NLRB is also looking into the “divisive” gag rule implemented by Pomona, which prevented students and dining hall workers from interacting while in the dining hall. In a recent article, Eric Martinez PO ’14 told the Port Side, “Pomona doesn’t want the students to talk to the workers because they know that our support makes them stronger. Pomona is here for the students so if the students ask [for] a union, that should work.”
A hearing on the complaint in front of an NLRB Administrative Law Judge has been scheduled for February 2012.
The NLRB complaint comes after a week of turmoil, in which Pomona fired 17 of its employees. After the firings, around 150-200 protesters, including students, faculty, alums, union organizers, and the fired workers marched on campus. The protesters shut down the dining halls and blocked College Avenue. 15 people were arrested.
Today at noon, the Pomona faculty are holding a meeting in the Rose Hills Theater, in which they will likely pass two resolutions. The first demands that the College provide full financial and legal support for the 17 workers to get proper documentation then rehire them with backpay. The second expresses lost confidence in the Board of Trustees. Students will be allowed to attend the meeting.
Also today, ASPC has organized a student forum with President David Oxtoby in the Rose Hills Theater at 4:15 p.m. to discuss the 17 terminations. The Port Side’s Deborah Frempong PO ’15 will be at the forum providing coverage.
Turn to the Port Side for continuing coverage of the labor unrest at Pomona. Look here for our coverage of last week’s dining hall boycott, the vigil outside of Alexander Hall, and the protest.
