Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: How can we have a successful national conference andrespect the hotel boycott at the same time?

[Liz Ryan Cole (lizryancole]

I have attended a number of conferences over the years at hotels at which there 
were labor disputes. Generally the union has been very happy to have us join a 
demonstration and/or otherwise let management know we believe hotels workers 
have the right to organize or the rights to whatever the current issue is.  I 
do think it is important not to favor one group competing for members over 
another (which it sounds as if the particular group who has expressed an 
unwillingness to work with us may be).

Their unwillingness to work with us (as shared earlier with this listserv) 
makes me suspicious that they are a fringe, perhaps not workers themselves, but 
the type of organizers who come from a non working class background who 
sometimes behave as if they know what is best for the workers, even if the 
workers don't necessarily agree.

I agree that the committee has done their best and we should honor the 
committee's work and attend. I think we need to be prepared to have some sort 
of "line" these folks will make registrants "cross" and have cohousers there to 
help people who arrive and will be surprised.

liz


On May 26, 2011, at 9:10 PM, Donna Niemann wrote:

> 
> Interesting and I don't agree with her that a union is a community in the 
> same sense that cohousing is. It is a group of people who form to advance 
> it"s members interests. 
> The bigger idea of community is not pushing one person's ideas or values over 
> another.
> If cohousers really got that then they would see this is apples vs oranges.
> Just my two cents...sense!
> Donna
> On May 26, 2011, at 5:44 PM, Richart Keller wrote:
> 
>> 
>> Hi Moz
>> 
>> It is my understanding that, although the union may well end up representing
>> the employees, they do not yet.
>> 
>> Rick
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Moz [mailto:list [at] moz.geek.nz] 
>> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 8:39 PM
>> To: Cohousing-L
>> Subject: Re: [C-L]_ How can we have a successful national conference
>> andrespect the hotel boycott at the same time?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Richart Keller said:
>>> I believe that we do not need to acquiesce in the oppressive practices 
>>> of hotel management.  At the same time, I do believe that we need to 
>>> accept or participate in all of the tactics of the union in order to 
>>> support their just cause.
>> 
>> The employees are explicitly asking us not to attend that venue and you want
>> us to overrule them because you know better. I'm sorry, but I can't accept
>> that. Supporting the union means honouring their request. It's not rocket
>> sceince, it's not even a big thing to ask.
>> 
>> I have to say though, I can't enter the US so my decision not to attend the
>> conference was made for me.
>> 
>> Moz
>> 
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> 
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> 



Liz Ryan Cole
lizryancole [at] mac.com
Pinnacle @ Loch Lyme Lodge
Lyme, NH
Home 802.785.4124
Work 802.831.1240