Chicago Parent Organization Attempts Undemocratic Takeover
Last week, the Chicago-based parent of UNITE HERE Local 24, the union of hospitality workers in Detroit, attempted to seize control of the local, physically removing Local 24 officers who had been recently elected by Detroit workers, and disrupting member servicing. The takeover escalated into an assault on a local union official early Saturday morning.
On Monday January 5, the Chicago & Midwest Joint Board removed Local 24 Chairman Joe Daugherty, who successfully led the epic 6-year Frontier Casino strike in Las Vegas, as the State Director of Michigan. The Chicago group abruptly installed New York union official Clayola Brown, who has little experience organizing hospitality workers, as the new State Director.
Local 24 members and officers decried the move, calling it an “attack on union democracy” and an “outrageous power grab.” Jeff McCaffrey, a bartender at the MGM Casino and the elected President of the Casino Division, said “We’re building a strong, organizing union so hospitality workers can get into the middle class. This is an attack on union democracy. We will fight for our members and protect our right to fight for good job standards.”
The Chicago & Midwest Joint Board escalated its attack Friday, when Local 24 officers, elected less than two months ago, were denied access to the Local 24 office. Joint Board officials physically intimidated Local 24 officers and staff. They called on building security and Detroit Police to eject all Local 24 officers, members and staff.
Local 24 Chairman Joe Daugherty, whose name is on the office lease as the head of Local 24, was allowed by police to remain in the office overnight to safeguard Local 24 property. Joint Board representatives intensively harassed Daugherty in the office, even interfering with a phone call to his wife. They kept up the onslaught of harassment by taking shifts overnight to prevent Daugherty from sleeping, and shouted at him through a bullhorn inches away from his ear. Daugherty was taken to a doctor Saturday morning to assess possible hearing damage from the assault.
Later Saturday morning, Joe Daugherty emerged from the Local 24 office and Detroit Police removed all Joint Board officials from the office.
The officers of Local 24 have not been accused of any wrongdoing or corruption. Local 24 is the largest single local in the financially strapped Chicago Joint Board. The Joint Board spent nearly $11 million more than the $18 million it collected in dues in 2007.
Jackie Kaifesh, a server at Fox Sportsbar at the airport and the elected Vice President of the Airport Division of Local 24, said “I feel like they’re trying to take my house. They won’t get away with this. Chicago Joint Board can’t take over Local 24 by seizing the office. The union is not the office. We are the union. The members are the union.”
The confrontation will continue on Monday, as Local 24 officers will seek an injunction against the Joint Board to re-gain occupancy of the Local’s offices.
Contacts:
For UNITE HERE Local 24
Lars Negstad, 312-446-1766