[Bulk] Re: [Ducati] Strike at Harley (with Ducati content)

[Bruce Bellm]

20 April 1914
The "Ludlow Massacre." In an attempt to persuade strikers at Colorado's 
Ludlow Mine Field to return to work, company "guards," engaged by John D. 
Rockefeller, Jr. and other mine operators and sworn into the State Militia 
just for the occasion, attacked a union tent camp with machine guns, then 
set it afire. Five men, two women and 12 children died as a result.

19 January 1915
World famous labor leader Joe Hill was arrested in Salt Lake City. He was 
convicted on trumped up murder charges, and was executed 21 months later 
despite worldwide protests and two attempts to intervene by President 
Woodrow Wilson. In a letter to Bill Haywood shortly before his death he 
penned the famous words, "Don't mourn - organize!" On this same day, twenty 
rioting strikers were shot by factory guards at Roosevelt, New Jersey.

12 July 1917
After seizing the local Western Union telegraph office in order to cut off 
outside communication, several thousand armed vigilantes forced 1,185 men in 
Bisbee, Arizona into manure-laden boxcars and "deported" them to the New 
Mexico desert. The action was precipitated by a strike when workers' demands 
(including improvements to safety and working conditions at the local copper 
mines, an end to discrimination against labor organizations and unequal 
treatment of foreign and minority workers, and the institution of a fair 
wage system) went unmet. The "deportation" was organized by Sheriff Harry 
Wheeler. The incident was investigated months later by a Federal Mediation 
Commission set up by President Woodrow Wilson; the Commission found that no 
federal law applied, and referred the case to the State of Arizona, which 
failed to take any action, citing patriotism and support for the war as 
justification for the vigilantes' action.

October 1982
A boycott was initiated by the Industrial Association of Machinists against 
Brown & Sharpe, a machine, precision, measuring and cutting tool 
manufacturer, headquartered in Rhode Island. The boycott was called after 
the firm refused to bargain in good faith (withdrawing previously negotiated 
clauses in the contract), and forced the union into an unwanted and bitter 
strike during which police sprayed pepper gas on some 800 IAM pickets at the 
company's North Kingston plant in early 1982. Three weeks later, a machinist 
narrowly escaped serious injury when a shot fired into the picket line hit 
his belt buckle. The National Labor Relations Board subsequently charged 
Brown & Sharpe with regressive bargaining, and of entering into negotiations 
with the express purpose of not reaching an agreement with the union.

6 October 1986
1,700 female flight attendants won an 18-year lawsuit (which included $37 
million in damages) against United Arilines, which had fired them for 
getting married.


Just a sample of nefarious deeds at http://www.lutins.org/labor.html

You will also find some heinous crimes committed by union members. My point 
is it would be sad to hate all unions or all management due to a single 
incident, no matter how personal. If hate is unavoidable, direct it at evil 
people no matter who/what they purport to represent.

bruce19




>
> On 2007 Feb 04, at 2:12 AM, Art Ramos wrote:
>
> So much for democracy in action.  So much for free speech and the  rights 
> of the individual.  The end does not justify the means.  I've  been 
> anti-union ever since.
>
> ...Ron