Citizen Will

Purest Form of Democracy: Raging Grannies to the Fore

First big meeting of 2011 and, pre-meeting, an example of how Chapel Hill’s community expresses democracy in one of the purest forms as ten Raging Grannies filed in singing “We will not be moved…”. They and about 20 other supporters are here to remind Council that concerns over the Clark-Bigelow dismissal.

This concerted effort sends a clear message – the underlying tensions still exist because the reasons still exist and they won’t go away without a clear and open review. That could start by supporting the two workers request to have a public review hearing of their case.

Tom Monk steps up to the podium. “The Town generally does a good job with sanitation – things smell good – this doesn’t smell good.” Asks for the men to receive unemployment benefits.

Samuel Monk chimes in – “this is a case where the workers have been discriminated against” because of labor organization efforts.

John Heuer concerned about reports of dismissal calls for unemployment benefits.

Wes Hare steps up – came here when Howard Lee was Mayor – he’s been part of the problem for forty years. It just doesn’t make sense, from what he hears from the folks he trusts this is a mess. Agrees with Monk that “this does stink”.

Michelle Laws – reflects on what Mayor Kleinschmidt said in State of the Town and the reality of town. Believes we are following national trend of two nations – one white, one black. We are moving towards two towns – one minority, one white. One rich, one poor. Heard nothing about the poor, the low wage worker, the two towns. Back to Bigelow/Clark – can’t believe that they were fired during the worst recession since the Depression – left with little financial support. Calls out Town on unemployment benefits – says that inspite of protestations of not intervening the lawyer representing the two has received a pile of documents from the unemployment commission that clearly was aimed at dissuading the commission from granting aid.

Robert Campbell – “I come tonight to call for justice…” I come tonight seeking justice for the two workers – it is about human rights and doing the right thing. “I thought scrooge was dead” but in the middle of the holidays we fire these two because of the outcry of one citizen. Since when do we allow one citizen to start a process that deprives the two of their due process. “I don’t need to remind of what happen yesterday….” in the ’70’s when a black student was killed and Chapel Hill was fire bombed….

Kerry Bigelow – Holds sign up that says “I am a Man”. Thanks for support of the folks that turned out. Disappointed on citizens who aren’t paying attention. They [“the Council”] count on citizens “on the sideline” being asleep. It is time for folks to get off the side-lines. His daughter gets up and asks Council to “get on the right side of history”.

Steve Bader – Emphasizes there is no legal requirement for the Town to send the ESC a pile of documents. Many employers don’t send any documentation. Also asks that the Town doesn’t send any managers or staff to the ESC hearing being held in two days. Says someone in Town has violated rules by signing a contract they shouldn’t of – including 10’s of complaints – no movement on that – but on one citizen’s complaint these two were discharged. “These two brothers were stewards” – they were trying to be good stewards of the Town. If the Town doesn’t show up Thursday then they will get their benefits. Why are we just hearing today about an ombudsman – that’s a crime.

MiriamThompson – “We elected you” – we didn’t hire the Town Manager, you did. A Town Manager that hires a notorious union busting group like CAI – who created a bias report. We didn’t hire a Town Manager that hasn’t let the employees confront their accuser. You were elected to support all of us…let’s not enter the year with a stain on our hearts…..

Clyde Clark – The same discrimination is going on. To him it seems one man is running the Town and the Council is “dropping the ball” and following his lead. [CW:presumably the Town Manager?]

The Raging Grannies file out singing “…we are all in this together….”

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3 responses to “Purest Form of Democracy: Raging Grannies to the Fore”

  1. Administrator Avatar
    Administrator

    I’ve been asked numerous times where I think the truth of the matter lies by folks who know I try to keep up with what is going on in Town and will call it as I see it.

    Simple answer? I don’t know.

    Lots of questions. Many raised over and over by the two’s supporters.

    I’m certainly sympathetic to Mr. Clyde and Bigelow’s situation – it is a very tough economy and getting a new job with a cloud hanging over their heads will be difficult to say the least.

    I definitely think the Town made a boneheaded mistake in hiring CAI, a firm known for its anti-union bias.

    From what has been reported, the case against the two workers seems tenuous and more deserving of management intervention than dismissal.

    Their reported grievances, unfortunately, are nothing new to me. Over the last decade, I’ve spoken to several dozen employees throughout our Town who have claimed similar malfeasance, discrimination, abuse and impropriety.

    If you listened to last night’s petitions you certainly got a sense of the scale of the claimed injustice – including the Town making it impossible for them to get benefits (if possible, see below) – far from a petty action.

    But what of the Town’s case? We don’t know because of the personnel process it is following precludes disclosure.

    That is why I’m encouraging the Personnel Board to open, as requested by the two workers, the appeal proceedings.

    At that point, I expect the Town to lay its case out fully – with great specificity. I expect the Town to establish why normal management procedures failed, as they seemed to have (and, afterwards, explain how that failure is being remedied) and explain clearly why the workers were fired.

    I would hope that the Town also explains what yardstick they judged the two’s actions against. Is it true, as has been claimed by some of the workers’ supporters, that other employees with far more serious infractions (even criminality) haven’t been dismissed?

    If the Town did send “a pile” of documents to the Employment Securities Commission (ESC), was this typical or were the two singled out?

    As far as unemployment, the ESC is pretty clear why the two aren’t getting it:

    Any individual who quits a job, is fired from a job, refuses a referral to a job, refuses a job, refuses to enter Approved Commission Training, or fails to complete Approved Commission Training may be denied unemployment benefits.

    Not sure how much discretion ESC has, though it does say may rather than shall.

  2. hhoward Avatar
    hhoward

    This is not the whole story. The truth will come out. The ESC ruled against the town in my case.

  3. Administrator Avatar
    Administrator

    Harv, if I hadn’t heard of similar management issues over the last decade, if I wasn’t hearing the alarm raised by folks I have found quite trustworthy, I’d put the whole thing down as disgruntled terminated employees that are trying to make waves.

    I look forward to seeing the Town make its case. It will certainly be interesting to see if the Town’s response was commensurate with the proven infractions (I expect there will be specific proof, right?).

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