Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Occupy Wall St to Occupy Sotheby's

LU 814 Occupying Wall St.
Things could get interesting on the Upper East Side of Manhattan today as Occupy Wall Streeters will join our Teamster brothers from Local 814 in a rally at Sotheby's. The auction house threw them out of work 11 weeks ago because they wouldn't accept a 10 percent wage cut and replacement by temporary workers.

Anyhoo, we received this advisory from the OWSers early this morning:
For Planning Purposes Only: Contact: Harrison Magee 917 803 3296
October 17, 2011
MEDIA ADVISORY
After being locked out from their jobs by auction house Sotheby’s on Aug. 1 over a contract dispute, Teamster art handlers will rally with activists from the ongoing Occupy Wall Street protests and other union members to demand that the company return to the negotiating table and settle a fair contract.
Among its demands, Sotheby’s, whose CEO Bill Ruprecht is paid approximately $60,000 a day, wants the art handlers to give up their 401K plan and work a reduced 36-hour week, effectively a 10 percent wage cut. The company also wants to cap workers’ overtime, eliminate certain titles that pay more, and, in initial bargaining, wanted workers to give up their right to sue over charges of discrimination.
What: Sotheby’s art handlers – all members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 814 – and their supporters will rally to demand an immediate end to the lockout and fair contract for workers
When: 1:30PM, Tuesday Oct. 18, 2011
Where: Sotheby’s
1334 York Avenue
New York, NY
Who: Sotheby’s art handlers and their community and labor allies
30-30-30