We just recently rid ourselves of the union, co-op in Queens.

Our lawyer knew the process and did a great job.

We used services of
Matthew Persanis
670 White Plains Rd. Suite 321
Scarsale, NY 10583
mp@elefantepersanis.com

Unions have been about the only way working people have been able to make anything other than a subsistence wage in this country.

And in the only Westernized nation without national health care, the social contract is that private enterprise would fill that role, in exchange for not being taxed at European levels. Yet private enterprise largely has not kept its end of the bargain, except when unions have negotiated for that.

Co-ops spend money on new lobbies, expensive, union-busting lawyers, and other suh things, and yet won't pay workers a living wage and offer proper benefits. Shame on you. Unless your co-op is on the verge of bankruptcy - in which case the union can negotiate with givebacks, and countless unions, such as in the airline industry have done - then you are morally bankrupt.

And I especially like how you capitalize "THE UNION" as if it were some horrible monster. That betrays your anti-worker, right-wing stance like nothing else.

You know, management bands together in solidarity, and shares the cost and burden of hiring attorneys, etc. Why shouldn't workers have the same right or organize? You are sickening.

Thank you Anonymous_is it possible that you give me some idea of the approx monetary cost_without disclosing who you are or your whereabouts other than Queens.

As you may note it took 2 weeks for a response, which I am sure it is a difficult subject to pose.

Did the process take long and what were the major impeding obstacles or objects that caused any hinderance if any?.

Again, I thank for sharing your experience.

I would like to know how the staff reacted to this move? How is their pension and health benefits going to get paid. What happens to the staff member who now has to freeze his union book, since he is working in a non-union building!!!

Thanks for the information. We will contact them, and see if they can assist us with ridding 32bj

I do not see anything incorrect about getting out of the union - In our coop we have a Super who does nothing and is costing us a massive amount of money - not only does he do nothng but he is calling outside vendors to do simple repairs like fixing leaking faucets and toilets and putting in light bulbs all part of his duties - Yet to get rid of him he wants us to buy him out - He is also not physically able to do these things so if you can get out of the union I say do it - I also understand that the union is trying to back charge buildings for benefits, etc for persons employed who were part time and did nothing and these charges are massive - so exactly what is the benefit of having a union - and then also there would be no strikes

Your knee-jerk anti-union reactionism is appalling. You know very well there are arbitration proceedings available, and supers have been known to have been fired after such proceedings.

What's the catch? You have to prove your allegations. If the allegations are true, that shouldn't be a problem. If your super is acting in violation of the union contract, then contact the RAB, which is the management signatory of the 32 B/J contract. You're deliberately not exploring the available options, out of anti-union prejudice.

Go read some history -- see what it was like for workers before unions. Learn about "company stores" and sweatshops and all the ordinary men and women killed -- actually, literally killed by police and company mercenaries -- for wanting decent working conditions

I am quite aware of union history - however what they did in the beginning changed quite a long time ago, and definitely not for the better - what about our auto industry, newspapers, steel industry etc -
If we have the options for the RAB that is well and good but apparently most our board is not availing themselves of that choice - which leaves the coop in a very difficult position

Blaming the unions for the historical changes to our auto industry (the Japanese are unionized and the auto industry there flourishes), the newspaper industry (crumbling due to free content on the Internet and not unions) and the steel industry (too many changes in manufacturing and materials-use to mention) is a straw dog.

Why not look to the financial industry, where mismanagement and the taking of millions and millions of dollars in bonuses for producing nothing, and where there ARE no unions, has created a domino effect on everyone.

Do you really think unionized police officers, teachers, etc., are living like lawyers and CEOs? The vast majority make an adequate living, but certainly aren't living high on the hog.

I'm sorry, but the idea of organizing for collective bargaining -- as opposed to a each single worker trying to "negotiate" against an entire company with all its resources -- in order to have a middle-class existence, health care and a couple of weeks vacation a year -- as opposed to slaving away 60-80 hours a week, having HMO "coverage" that fights you for every prescription, and being fired for any reason or no reason, probably like many white-collar workers you know -- is only fair and just.

That the rest of your board refuses to go into arbitration, almost certainly violating the union contract, is unconscionable. If you can get a lawyer to twist the law and find some loophole, well, good for you. You're only making things harder on the rest of the world.

By the way, I found this article in Habitat about union and management working together in a particularly challenging situation. Why not read it and get more facts before going down this road?

Union No More
July / August 2006 Hotline
http://www.habitatmag.com/archive/add_to_cart.php?article_id=3457

An unusual win-win-win scenario among workers, the union, and a co-op that
decided to reduce its number of union maintenance staff.

If your Resident Manager is "Doing Nothing" you don't get rid of the union! You get on Managements back to draw the line with the staff. If they don't get it straighten out then you get another management company!

Resident Manager in NYC

Once in a great while when I think it might be a good idea to look back into the residential side of this business I first stop by Habitat. Thanks for posting this, it made me happy to be on the commercial side of the business. How easy it is to forget the yahoos that wake up with great ideas like ridding the union and self management. I would ask the poster how he would enjoy having a volunteer come into his office and slashing his health, retirement, and medical benefits.

If your building has union staff they have a contract, breaking this contract, harassing workers, and acting out of ignorance will only serve to realize additional expense to neighbors.

If your building is so cash strapped that they can not keep union staff it is either time to move or consider an increase in your monthly maintenance.

i know our managing agent did this in our building a few years ago. You can contact Harry at 212-582-9080. I don't know if he does this for anyone or for only the buildings they manage.