The Joe Hill LTD Project
The pretty building in the picture below is the new Scab Rest Home for the sub-contracted RideSource Service by LTD. Boss Hamm's famous tool box includes scab labor projects like RideSource. But who would have thought that he would refurbish the scab headquarters at such a huge expense.
If you can imagine this, LTD goes out this year and purchases land at Garfield and 2nd Avenue. If you ask developers they will tell you that industrial and commercial land is currently at a premium in Eugene. So you have to believe that LTD paid top dollar for the property for RideSource. LTD spent $1.8 million this year for RideSource's new headquarters. This is probably mostly for the property and architectural work. LTD is planning on spending $2.6 million this year. This money must be for the construction of the Scab Palace. Don't believe it then check out these budget numbers by clicking http://ltd.org/site_files/budget/07%20-%20Capital%20Projects%20Fund.pdf .
But wait a minute! Doesn't LTD already own enough property at Glenwood for this new facility? Even if the land is a little smaller at Glenwood haven't they heard of two or three floors? And what about using our facilities to repair the scab cut-away buses? So why not build it here at Glenwood? Is it because the SMS drivers are non-union and they just didn't want them too close to us. You see we have the UNION LEPROSY. Those scab drivers might get ideas! They might want a union. Lord knows they need one.
Scab Palace for RideSource
Click on Image to Enlarge
As far as the Joe Hill LTD Project has been able to find out, the leased facilities for RideSource were leased by SMS and not LTD. Weren't the RideSource buses owned by the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG) or someone else at some other time? Wasn't the contract manager formerly at LCOG but now at LTD. The buses weren't owned by LTD. But now they are owned by LTD. So now the contract management, facilities and equipment are owned and provided to SMS by exclusively by LTD. Well our union exclusively represents drivers and mechanics of LTD.
One wonders if this arrangement could pass the "smell test" as to whether they are truly independent contractors or even be so considered according to the IRS regulations. At the very least there is enough doubt about their services and their independence that a Unit Clarification Petition to the Employment Relations Board should be immediately submitted or a Unfair Labor Practice complaint should be filed by our Union. Maybe a complaint to the IRS should be forwarded because the tools of the business enterprise are being provided by LTD, the facilities are being provided by LTD and the hours of operation and service are being dictated by LTD and Federal Law. Sounds like this is a wholly owned LTD function. As such recognition from the State Employment Relations Board should gives us these employees so they will not be exploited any longer.
If we do not start this fight against RideSource and the Diamond Express now, as soon as possible, then Joe Hill thinks we are looking at the future of our jobs. LTD will not hesitate to scab us with this so-called non-profit organization. We must fight now. LTD could be spending this money in settling their contract with us. Lets give them more to worry about and get the RideSources workers to throw off their chains. We must organize them now or capture them. If LTD is going to spend $4.4 million to keep RideSource away from us, then lets take us to them either through legal means available to us or organization cards. Lets get started today!
Yours in Solidarity
Joe Hill
JH 43
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