HomeMy WebLinkAbout0371.094~.
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July 7, 1994
Honorable City Council
Palo Alro, California
13
Renew or Unralr Labor Practice Allegations made by "The~'pajgn for .~
W -N In ,
Members of t11e Council:
The City Council, at its lune 20, 1994 meeting, approved the City's budget for tlstal ye<lf
1994·1995, but eHminafed funding for landscape maincenance services at the Cuhberfcy
Community Center. The funds were remo'w'ed because of conceIllS: about unfair labor practice
allegaliol1s made by "The CampaIgn: for Justice" ag~insf Landscape West-North Inc .• the
proposed conlra<:tor. The original aHegations are found tn Attachment A. City staff was
instructed to irwestigate the allegations and to return to Council with their findings on July 5,
1994 or as soon as possible thereafter.
Council subscquen!ly removed $41,000 from the Community Services Department operating
budget for Cubberley landscape majn~enance services. 'This includes funding for the base
contract and cOn!tngency, but does not include the $5,035 in additional change order
authority requested in CMR:346:94, Staff will return to Council for approval of a Budget
Amendment Ordinance and Award of Contract when a landsc.ape maintenance CQntractor is
selected,
Discussion
The teml of Landscape West-North Inc.'s ('.ontract with (he City of Palo Alto was 22
months, with an option for 12 addiILonal m01\tn~. The contract commenced on September 1,
1m and terminated on June 30, 1994. The additional 12 months of the agreement's ttrm
could be impiemented only by mutual consent of the. parties. provided that the City Council
had appropriated funds for the service, in rhe 1994-1995 budget. The contract expressly
CMR:371:94
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provided thaI iI wo"ld terminate without penalty at Ihe end of any fiscal year, in the event
thaI (und, were nOlapproprialed for the foilowing fiscal year. As a resull of the Council's
action on Iune 20~ the contract therefore terminated on June 30 1 1994.
A. of Iuly I, 1m Cubberley Communily o:nter has no landscape mainlenanc" servic~. for
it! around" .thlNlc fields, track and lennis ""urts. Turf areas will ""ntinu. to be watered
and monitonxl by on·,ite Slaff. AU othe, seIVi""" will be deferred until an interim ""nlmel is
sl&""". When the CilY Council appropriates funds for landscape scrvices " Cubber1.y for the
1994·1995 fiscal )'ear, regular mainl."ance will resume. Cily .laffwill soon begin the
y~$$ 10 solicit new formal bid,. It is eSlimaled that the formal bid process will take.lhree
months. On an interim basis Cily staff will seek competitive quotations to provide minimum
!urf m'aintwancc QO a. month·[o-monlh basts. Funds wilt temporarily b~ diverted from othu
Cubberle)' opcr.~ting Clcoounls and will be realtocatcd when landscape maintenance funding is
approved by Counc iL
City staff roni.aC"!ed SoC\'eral agencies wilh jurisdiction 'Over emp!oyerlemployee labor re.lations
and worker safety. The ageMie, were asked whether Ihey had any pending complaints or
inve.siigation~ against Landscape We·sl·North Inc. TIle agencies were not able to give specific
information &n:d could only verify case numbers and whelher charges had been fired or not.
'The Campaign (01 JUSlicc" and land".pe WeSl-North Jnc. were also asked to submit lelters
of explanation or clarification if they wishc.d. Both ch.ose to do so. Their Ieuers are found in
AliachmtillS Band C, respectively.
Please nore the osl,ri,ked (.) ilem on page Iwo of "The Campaign for Iuslice" leller found in
Altachmenl B. Axording 10 the National Labor Relations Board staff, their investigation will
001 be !)()mpteled (or lwo weeks. A final jUdgment has not been made and information is not
available for public dislribulion allhi, time.
FoHowing is a Ii~t of the ageodeio C(lntaclcd and their response:
National Labor Relations Board
They have no record of p.a~t charges, but do have one current charge pending.
(Charges are claims which usually involve unfair labor praclices.) ThaI charge
was flied on May 10, 1994 and the charge ""mbor i, 32-CA-13928. This
infonnation is consistent with. that provided by "The Campaign for Justice".
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Page Three
Sanla CI.ra County SUr<JiO[ COUll
Slaif wa.\ not able 10 ... rify !he information pro"ided by 'The Campaign for
Iv,ti",' by lelep/1one, To gain inform.lio", considorable staff lime wQuld be
n=ary 10 revIew lhe «lUll re<<>fds in San Jose~ To our knowledge, a
healing has not been scheduled~ The lun. 28, 1994 leller (Allaehmenl B) from
-The Campaign for lu:sllce" I however! doc.s give (he -sp«ific court case
,1umb<r (CV141596) and luM 2(\ 1994 u I~e date filed and se;ved, This is
the same nigM Ihls mailer Wa! pre.<e~led 10 Council.
Sonia Clara County Dillnel Attorney', Omce· c:onsumer Fraud Un"
They ha," nothing in rheir fiI .. and no <n-ord of any pasl or pending
hwc:s!igati(h''5.
CaI·OSHA om", in San lose
They have no r~'XJrd or an)' 1\6dw1S (H oomrl:;.tnl~ tt.boUI l...and>rape Wesl
North In<.
Staie or Cali(olnta COn[raCIOiS UCi'nse BO..1rd
They have no rC:X"Xlrd of any im'esligalions or legal judgments. They do not
keep records of C<)mpl~!1IS.
California Stale Labor Commiuion
CMR:311:94
Their records indicate th2t twocasc-s; in\.'o!ving wage and 'Overtime issues
were med In lanuary and Da:ernber of 199J. llo!h cases h,,'e bren closed. In
ooe case, the parties sctll«J ~ir taj;(t and tile complainl was wilhdrawn. In
!he other, We conlraclor paid U", plainliff Ihe money owed and Ihe romp),inl
WdS abandoned, Tile only complain< (cc<>i"ed in 1994, was the one /1100 by
'The Campaign for lusU",' on luno 20,1994 (Ca$e 112·19126). This is tile
same night this maU« was presenled 10 Council. The case will be
scheduled for a hearing in July. This case Wal referw<cd in 'The ('",mpaign
(or lu,lice'.· second /elle. received by City staff on June 28, 1994
(All2.ehment 8).
The California Slate labor Commillioner', Office staff indicated Ihal
Landscape WOM·North Inc. "'ponded f.vorably to their Icllers and
dtmor.slraloo a \\ijJIjngness 10 scare disagreemenrs promplly.
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~mmend.l!!IlJ
Staff rccommends that Council:
1. DJrett staff to prepare specifications. seek competitive bids (or 3 contraci rO
provlde landscape rnaint.enaoce services al ('yb~rley !U1J return to OxniCil tor
approval of awaro of the OOnlr.cl and .• Budge! Am<:ndmcnl Ordi",oce 10
reinstale the n<C<ssar)' funds 10 the Dep.lrtmenl of Community S,,,;<:<. 1994.
1995 operaling budge!.
Respe<tfuUy submitloo,
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Paul Thillgen~ 1'1
Djrector of CommuniC)' Ser'lices
~ A~sistanl City Manager
Attachments;
A: Original Campaign for JUSlice lener, daled 6/HI9-I
B: Faxoo Campaign for JUSI ice leiter, received 6128194
c: Lan<lscape West· North, 1110. letter daled 6/21/94
CMR:371:94
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0"'1 ATTACHNENT It
Tlie Campaign for
JUSTICE .......
June 15, 1994
Palo Alto City Council Neffibers,
I would first like to congratulate the Palo Alto City c::ouncil on
your prompt response and concern about the gardeners at the John
J. Shooter Landscape Co. He are pleased t.O kno'w' that unjust.
treatm-ent in \llork. environments will not be tOlerated.
Once ao;air. we are contronted ;"'ith a similar situation at
Landscape West -North. The employees at L,andscape West-North are
organid.n2 against lack of health insul'ance, management
hetrrassment. unpaid overtime, unsafe .... 'ork condi::ions, and an end
to lega.l violal:ions.
On Ap.-:':'l 27th, ove:t' half of the company's employees, Campaign for
Justice reoresentatives, and cotrrnunity activists asked for a
meeting ",·itr. the (:ompany. The scheduled mee-.:.ing \I,:as cancel.led b~'
t.he companY'!f general manager and irrunediat.ely after t..he employees
were t.hreat.ened to be demoted or fired if they cont:inued to
organize ..
Because the company refuses to deal \I,'i th the 9ardeners concerns
directly, Landscape West-N6::.·th employees have been forced to file
legal charges to try to force the company to respect their
rights.
Lawsuit -state Superior Court
,~harges illegal working conditions such as failure to pay
overtime and falsification of records.
Nationnl Labor Rela.tions Board· Unfair LaDor P:t"a.ctir.es (charge
32 -CA-13S28)
Charges the compct;!ly .... 'ith threats, intimidation, retaliation,
surveillance and coercion for organizing activity.
Employees, have been told that they ""ill be fired if they continue
organizing, that they will receive no raises as long as they
orgainize. The company was even seen filming employees talking
to the union organize~ outside the office.
Amended charge: '32-CA-13:928 • Firing
RicJ.~y Sosa .... :as fired after he demanded that he be correctly
paid tor the overtime that he worked.
lOIO Ruff OrNe, San JOSt, (A !l~l !O Phone: -408/280·]710 FI\X: (~08) 2BO·7804
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In addition. employees report being forced to 'Work in unsafe
conditions. and beins obliged to pay fOl" their own
protective equ.ipment such as gloves and shoes.
The City of Palo Alto responded promptly to similar
conditions in the company Shooter Landscape Company, which
helped to resolve the p~oblems there, and to set up a system
whereby efl:lP1oyec6 can deal .... 'ith problems directly with the
company, instead of tht'(Jugh the courts. We ask you to
continue your strong stand against illegal working
conditions. and use only responsible contractors \','hich
respect their employees.
Sincerel>',
devvu/~_~
;J~nJ1 ie Roi tman
~ampaign for Justice
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ATTJ\CHHENT B (--",
"c tlFNIVrn JUN ~ , 1991
The Campaign for
.-. JUSTICE
Del Th()rpe
Cit)· of P'"-lo Alto
SE~"I' BY FAX, 415-856-8756
PAGE 1 OF 2
Than}.;. you {Ot" your ccnce:rn abo1lt the gardeners at the company
Landscape ..,'est-l'Ol"th, As we have e)...-plailled, the compani~ is
cur:cent.l~' UOdel" investj,9ation by va:r:ious agencies for violations
of Ule la\("
Enclosed is a slJrrm ... llry of the 1 ega:: charges currently in progress
for problems at Landscape "'est -h1or';:h. As I e;.. .. plained in my last
latter, ~e have tl:ied to reso~ ve ;:.hese concerns directly .. fith the
:Co."'P,1t1)', b'JI:. Landscape i'ies.:. . No::-tt has re!used to meet or speak
\oi'ith us, and continues to chr-eat.er. the .... ·orkers.
Please call me if you have any questions.
SincE!:l':ely.
77atAf/fW-----4~rlie Roitm~n
Organizer
lOlO Ruff D,~ San Jou. (.It. 95110 Phonr" -108/280·1770 FAX (~08i 280.780~
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Summary and Status of L~gal Char.ges -L~od8cape K6st North
1. Nat1on~1 Labor Relatiobs Boar~ • Charge '32~CA·13928
Violations of National Labor RelatioDs Act sections 8Ca~1~ 8(~)3
Charges the company ... ·ith unfair labor prbctices tor illegal
threats, iTltimidation. isolation, surveillance. coercion. and
f.iring in direct violat.ion of the ~orkers;' legally protect€'d
rights to organize and font'! a uni.on .
• On Aprjl 2,)ch~ over halt the compafl)"s einployees, organizers,
and corrwunity activists asked lor II! meeting .... ·.ith the COlr~_ny.
The scheduled meeting was cancelled by the gener<ll ~l1anitger and
replaced by a campaign of intimiaation <'VIti thre~t5.
Workers have been thre.ateneri by supen'.lsors .find tIle gene.raJ
manager, .both indi vidually .nld in, co;;;p.\ny-",·ide meetings. ~ • .! th
firings and mass layoffs if the)' cont":nue to o:-gsnizc_ The
general manager ~old itJl the ""orkel's ~hat i:!leil· yaises "en~ being
frozen because of cheil-organj;rlJig, '/"Cti\'..!.s!:s have beer.
isolated, thl'eatened, ana" sp:ied On, including filming of ur:.io.r:;
activities, One ~'orker was lil·eo afte:· \'oc~ll)' supp,?rting .the
union in numerous company mee:::ings and itsJ:ing that the company
pay overtime rates for over:i~~ hou~s,
Status: This week, Lhe N"i.J<B ~ound e\'i-denc~ ot. violations fo::
threats, intimidatioll. surveillance. and COQ"!"Cion _ The !;".o.'Upany
~'ill b2 required t.o pa~' ~crkers the raises tha::. \I'ere tro:!en and
all indicated backpay.
2. SADta Clara County Superior Court ~ C4S& ICV7(1596
Class action lawsuit for violations of state labor coda
Charges include failure to PB}' minimum ~aga-. fail\)re to pay for
all hours worked, failure to pa}' oveftiTne. failure to reimb,,"1l"se
expenses, failure to pay tor and provide oecess31Y equipment,
falsificat.ion of pay records:, and nur..erous otller violations.
Status: Filed and served 6/20/94. Proceeding to conference.
3. California State Labor Comnission • Case ~12·19126-1LM
Violation of IWC Orde~ 5-89, Section 202 and 203
Failure to pay workers for all hours ?""or).;,:ed upon discharge ..
Status: Filed 6/20/94, Proceeding to hearing,
4; Workers have reported and documcmted num~rous other violat;ions
and are pursuing other legal actions. Gi vcn l~findscape H.es"t
North's trc.ck n;ocord, workers are vel)' concet'"ned ahout
re~aliation. Therefore, we must keep neh' chak:gcs confidential
tOt-the time beillg, We will be mOl.'"e than happy to wod" ... ·ith you
to keep you fully informed as it becotrles possible to release
further information to the public.
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June 27, 1994
City of Palo Alto
Attn': Del Thorpe
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4000 Uiddlefield Road
Palo Alto, Ca 94303
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ATTAClll-lEN'!' C
Re: Campidgn for Justice J..Jiegations
Dear City Council of Palo Alto:
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REr.FIVFO JUN 2 II 1994
r~'e are distressed to fino out that you did JlOt .{efle",: Olir
maintenance contrdr.t .d til the Ci ty of Palo )..1 to.
The union organizers have painted a bleak plcture of flo ... • .-Ie tl-eat
our enlployees at L,mdscape West-North. Because cf the 1.H.'suit lo'-!'
cannot discuss their allegations.
The following should add
landscape ind~stry as it
landsclIpe compenies.
$O{(ll'j ligh~ onto -.'h.H is gOIng on
to larrdscap~ e:r.plo}'eos ana" :;,,~st
The "Campaign for Just ice" is a front for .lQur labol 1. .... ;::.005.
Service Employees !fjternat iO(jal Voior:, Teamst ec s, lIot c i /:€Stiwrlint
Employees and Amalgamated r.loUdog and Texti le "'''orkers. TlJis
group has specifically targeted 25 landscape COmpilflH!S ir! thf!
Silicon Valley" including MIN,
Whereas they claim to represent the "workl?rs", q'.Jite the Opposlt(!
is true. Almost all of MIN worker.s "do not ""<'wt to join Ulis gr()UP
and be forced to pay union dues when they already work for .:t
company which has benefits and wage levels ""el1 above indvstry
averages, That's why only J or 4 Lfm employees (our of .'iI tOlal ot
over-' 50) participate in demonstrations. There is flO broad baS:1? ot
supp~rt. The union is using other union memil-e;rs and paid
organizers from as tar as New YOrk to demonstrate as
"landscapers", Please note t.hat when asked if thp.y understood
that an LWN employee couJ.d lose his job over this nction .. they
responded with an "I don't care".
Tactics of this group do NOT include tile usual signing of
autho~i zation cards from company employees for a secret ballot.
union election conducted by the National l.ab()r Rel,atiorl$ ,Boara'
(NLRD), Instead "of this legal and ethical dpproa-ch, they use
tactics of intimidation dnd fear by stol-u,ing offices and
demonstrating at customel-sites.
IS40SourIlSfVM(IISlTur ," Sanjosr. C19Sil2 • 4(.\9·288-2910 • 40S-295-M24FA'(
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Thei: gOe:
cus:ome.rs'
the ur.ior.
:'r. de·':rH; :r.':'$ . <' :.~ i;av'S Cl:s:crne:-~ .i:,:;". ". :-er..!o():! c:
p::-essL::,f :.':;,; ~6{jCS::&.:::>E ~amp~r.;'!t • .-~~ r:;:.:.:-e-:-:::.' ::eC:;~"',;H
~ru:i ':;.he~e:o:e b.l'pif:.$$ :n~ ~i~:7:'::~:: p:o::S$~.
:i.r. a """all S~:-€'e:: JOL':Ili.": e.:-:i~..i€-or: Na:'·cr. J:, ':h~.;.." :.ac.:: ;.cs h'e:-~
slIl7Ome.riz.ea" ';'$ "".sn)', obnc;.:'::ot.:~ tile p~CG$':'Cr.e":~y .:<;-eq~;~.
M'.ws' position is tha~ i: ",·;'1.l: (1) p.ro:~c: ':::.~ .... ·{J:i:e~s fron. :.~.:'.!
group ana' (2) nor n:ego:::'&:e d,;':ect.ly .... ,ie;. :he l:::'::or., :he.:-eby
bYPllssing the employees. unless ar. ele.c-:ior; is !:'::s: ht::":(j. 7i'1~
union" so fa!:; has evcio'€c' trois llo=-:::;acr. becau~~ :ne\" k."):)),' U~~y
wo~.!d lose. 1:"$ eesis: ;:n ::il-err" "::: ::(:t:'ff,!da:~ :?f'o.(::~ oJ"/d ,-!'f .~
discredit e,r, established, repu::a.t.l€ com_t;ar~y.
~li':iatever lies and Ll1nru::i":s they «rey Pi): or. f~ye!,$ 0:: p~ster!'i, :h!O
obvioLlS qLlestion to ask ~s, "If =onc'i~iorJS Cir-e sc DrJo" fwd th~
workers are so mistrf6:e.d, .... nJ' n'J: neve <3r. -slec:~on SUD!!?rt"isec D\'
th~ NRLB?" !.: :;il'es!; :::-2..:;ilrls J,'e.:e :'!'"UE, t-ho; (Jr.'::)f. 10.'01.:10' Jo.-::':r.. 5:(;:"
they're n:)::: and the Llr.ior. kn.:lI'
LNNs' pos;::;on c': no:: neq,,-::.:a:_Ilr: ::::::!'"""c::':" ;.'.:.::~. :."e-un::,:c:: pu:!' :.'-,,,,
;:;:;mpEt.ny in a vulne.!'Bt":e s"::-vc:':o.":. .:.~ p:"f!$St:.-~ :cc:i::-s &::e p .. :: :J::
t.r.e company, ane O;)r Ct.:s:om!::-s, :;-r'!;' ;::'c:'!-"sii;-.2..2:.· =y :::-: ..:cs.:nq
contzaC::S b;;;c;)m'?s very =~c:.": e.s :n<c ~csy s::-":u:':':c·..r: :D.: s:)m~
custo;lters is ~;) ge: ano:he:-lands:::-aper ::0 "ml::.i:€ :ilo: p::-ob;'e17. 9~
,n,,·ay'·. Tr.:f. ~ :"s e>:ac:":y ... ·::;a: :he :,::,::'::)1: .:s ,'J"J.= .:.'lq :c·:. ~ik-e
Garei.::;, pL-esider.: 0:' tiJ~ ~:)-:::'G": :::-r.a.~:e::-::::f SE:,''':::-!' Em.:J.oyees
In:: e::nc::'::' ?fi{;;.": Ur.ion, s-:..,:ec' ::'r. -:-:')(; .st.·si."le~s ,7:;t::.""dil, J-. • .':"~::'1 2S,
"UsuiS12.v ::.n:?:-€ 's nc: .; _~. c.: &.~~;::';.n:::-e .oe:\o!ee:: :rJo; ::-~ier;:: a;;-::
th.e ~O!1t:.=-b-=::)!". ':'h€ ;::'':''::e:-.:.s =.r,s.'Jq!· ~on::-a::::J:---.t ":';:ke :hey -Cna,'lqE
$ocxt;." Heybe sc. Maybe n::::. }'.::;=:":::.-t.:':'o:-..::.~, ""l)~r. : fie ... ' Llnde:s:arl~
the issv-es, :'"dc::ic." c: :f.c!'" an::: ::'r.:':'n:idstJ:cr. <i:!""€ h'n..;: k'~ a.:-!-
de.alin~ Jo.·i-:J.. Th::.s::'s nc-: oS "::;iim.:.~iqr: 1:;;: ~:r.:s: :.ce" D::: ii
"Campc.J.gr; 0: Elacklli6.'::'~·'_
Since this 9'<,0:1.::", is g:::':':."1:;: c::e= :."le en:-.::-" ":an::s::::"pe, ll:.=':'f:l:;er.E.",:::-<C
industry irl $:·':ic.or. t'c).2e.\·, ~'C"':'::--=C:::;;'::-$ .{;;.:~ O:?a.r:'::'Z':!l? ::-es.:s:
chis group. No one c-onr..::6C:c-r is "sQ.:e". ':'1",,:: q::"a 1 is :.::-ffr,sXe
st:re th.s-:. landscape Cl.'$::C;7j~:.s-oTic" :.,~e.:.: ::er,,,,Ilt!, r.OV€ r.f"!'!, faq .. s i:.1l:i
lmoGrstand t.he issues ",$ ... ·e..:~ oS :.::: insL'::-e-:.ha: ~eq61 a::cior.: ::'$
taJ:en 'Idler, ~eqL'ired"
,TO dilte, r:.il~~!: l';c:s been e q:e.::: dec': ::! s:;ppc:: :-::orr: 0:":;
empJ.oyee-s, cu'stome.:-s and :h~ oub~i::-a'!: .ia:o€'. :ONN .cwo its
employees a.op:-!::ciat-e the con:'imJes oppo::-::;;; .. i:y ~: prov..:oing y[>t:
with th€ very be-st se!"v'::ce i.'l 1c. . ..,~sc.ap::."g c.!ld :r.::ir.::enance.
Your continued SlJPPo!"t. .!s ,'!ppre::.!a:ec
please feel free to c.a!2 me.
~~ h,~~· -':i ICC
Tom Burns
GeneraJ. !~ar;ager
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