10 Teamsters arrested at Russell labor dispute

by James Norton and Donald Norton

Beginning at 3 a.m. this morning, more than 30 members of Teamsters Local 25 padlocked the entrance of Russel Disposal  and parked a large tractor trailer in fron of the business to block access to the waste businesses' yard.

Witnesses on scene said the union attempted to intimidate everyone in sight, including police and media, with curse-laden threats. A fracas erupted between Teamsters, police and Russell employees. At one point during the confrontation Russell owner Chuck Russell stood in McGrath Highway with a sombrero on and stomped on discarded picket signs.

The  teamsters are trying to unionize Russell employees but have not been successful, convincing only six of 100 Russell workers to picket with them and gaining  12 votes in favor of unionization.

Somerville police were on scene and arrested 10 Teamsters who refused to move away from the entrance and allow Russell employees to enter.   

Locked chains installed by the Local 25 members on the front gate were eventually cut away to allow access to the facility.

Police in full riot gear pushed the Local 25 members back from the front gate and to a staged area underneath McGrath Highway to allow workers access to the facility and for trucks to enter and leave.

By 11 a.m. the scene had calmed. Though when Russell walked to the front of his business Teamsters launched verbal threats.

"Ya piece of shit," yelled one union member. "You're a criminal."

Somerville Police Captain Paul Upton said the 10 Teamsters arrested will appear in court later today or early tomorrow morning. He could not yet release their names, he said.

Teamsters Local 25 President Sean O'Brien told a Somerville news reporter he was "too busy with something" to comment on the morning's events.

Comments

[Eastie]

is this the site on lower Broadway? We've been trying to get rid of that STENCH for years. Broadway Brake should be closed and those trash trucks gone. If this administration insists on a hotel, put it next to the trash transfer station in Union Sq. If its been good enough for the longtime residents, then its good enough for the vistors to our lovely city. Wake up!

[Ron Newman]

Local 25 of what union? And where is this facility located?

[Casements]

This type of "thug" mentality is what has given unions a black eye for decades now. Unions were a necessary part of this country for many years, but this behavior makes people wary of joining a group that has their leaders serving time in jail for screwing the members!
Wake up, your union is not wanted at this esstablishment, GO AWAY!

[Union]

Way to go Teamsters look for the union label on the back of your barrel,also while they are at it they should look into other places to set up a picket like the D.P.W. I hope that our local press will give fair and HONEST coverage to their efforts?

[Union]

Way to go Teamsters look for the union label on the back of your barrel,also while they are at it they should look into other places to set up a picket like the D.P.W. I hope that our local press will give fair and HONEST coverage to their efforts?

[Middle Class]

Way to go 25! These guys they are up against needed someone to stand up to them and it's great to see there is someone out there who is doing that.

I hope the press does investigate why they were there and the reasons for the picketing.

A major victory for democracy!!!

[Jender]

Union thugs using intimidation tactics. That's a surprise.

[Election]

I disagree with these tactics, but the same hard tactics have been used by employers all along. Without unions, there is nothing to balance the scale against employers. International unions is what's needed.

[Humberto]

Muy bueno mi amigos!

[Ron Newman]

This story appears to give the management's point of view, but I'd like to hear the union's side as well.

[Election]

C'mon Somerville News folks, cannot you get an interview with some of the union members to hear their side of the story? Can you at least TRY not to look obviously biased and provide some balance in what you cover?...

[union]

I LOVE a good old fashioned brawl. I hope some heads got split open today. We need more of a return to tradition! Go support the union guys at SOMERVILLE DISTRICT COURT at 2pm.

[Jim Gray]

If Russell employees want to unionize fine. if they do not, then why the strong arm tactics.

[Election]

Problem is that we don't know the full story.

[Humberto]

Jim why don't you keep your opinion to yourself! They want to unionize but are afraid of losing their jobs.

[Jender]

"Jim why don't you keep your opinion to yourself!".....

because it is a discussion forum you imbecile.

[Humberto]

Jender can you hear me now???

[Somer_Salted]

Yes, let's hear the UNION side of this fracas!

[Election]

Are staff at the Somerville News members of a Union?

[Union]

Did the MAYOR take union money? Did the MAYOR take union endorsments? Does the MAYOR believe in a right to work shop? (if he knows what that means) then let him stand up and be counted as the leader of this blue collar city. But I think he just goes where the god almighty dollar goes in his re-election acount.

[Ron Newman]

I have no idea if the Russell employees "want to unionize" or not. Newspaper reporters should interview some of them and find out their (probably varying) opinions on the subject.

[Ron Newman]

Where exactly is this location? Some of the photos appear to be on the one-way ramp that leads from Glass Stop to Brickbottom, going past Pat's Tow.

[Dapper]

Ron I am with you - I think these pictures are doctored - it looked like file photo from Vietnam.

[Election]

Unions are not only for blue collar workers. They are for workers in general.

[Dapper]

Is Ron pro-union or pro-management?

[Election]

Not sure about Ron. I'm pro-balance of forces. Right now, management has too much power.

[union]

Get down to SOMERVILLE COURT to support your local union members. These are the salt of the earth, the backbone of our community. The goon squad was way overboard today with these peaceful union members. FREE THEM!

[Ron Newman]

I'm pro- good reporting. This article does not provide enough information for me to determine which side is right (if either).

[Ron Newman]

Dapper: What? There is nothing wrong with the photos. I am just trying to determine their location.

[Hedz up]

Congrats to the police on protecting the right of a private business to go about making a living without the interference from union goons who were interfering with private property. i.e. by padlocking his gate. Where are the fire houses and dogs when you need them.

[The Mole]

If you want to see which Mr. Douglas gave contribution money to the Mayor's campaign (or any other Alderman in the City) just look on their campagin finance reports. I know for sure Mr. Douglas is on at least the Mayors' from 2003 & 2005.

The Mole

[Ron Newman]

I see no reference to a Mr. Douglas anywhere in this news story. Who is he and what is his connection to either the management or the union?

[Ron Newman]

I just looked at your video. The picketers are holding signs that appear to say "ON STRIKE", along with other words that I can't read at this resolution. Is there an actual strike going on at this company?

[Union]

Newman are you really this stupid or are you just a figment? For someone who is supposed to be this smart you come across as a farm house fool.

[Ron Newman]

I don't understand your reply. Is there a declared strike or not?

[mofo]

Ron doesn't understand hard working blue collar guys. He thought those were campaign signs and today was an election.

[mofo]

Ron doesn't understand hard working blue collar guys. He thought those were campaign signs and today was an election.

[Casements]

HAHAHAHA, these Local 25 bunch of fools have set unions back 50 years!
This crap does not work in the 21st century.
I bet all of these picketers were poor laid off slobs that were ordered to do this by the big boys, who sit back and rake in the money.
Go back to your holes and beat up your women, you bunch of cavemen!

[Mike]

But brown shirts on these union goons and they would fit in real well in Nazi Germany.

[Election]

Was there a strike?

[the pie man cometh]

the union CAN'T comment on what's going on at russell disposal because they shouldn't be there in the first place...listen, this much I can say from what I personally witnessed today. there is much much more to this story than you have heard so far. the union people have "strike" on their signs, but russell disposal is NOT a union shop. doesn't take much to figure out what's going on - they're trying to strong arm russell into turning union as payback for him underbidding another union shop's gig. they have NO business being there...the union officials are even lying to their own picket squad by telling them russell is a union buster...anyone call up russell and ask if they're a union shop...the workers there DON'T WANT TO BE UNION...russell pays better than the union and he has better benefits...it would be stupid for them to want to be union in the first place. call russell and see if I'm telling the truth

[Ouch!]

Who's throwing those pies!?!?!

[Dirty]

Pie Man, Do you work at Russell? Tell me all the benifits you have?? Do you have overtime? Do you have time in a half? Paid Holidays?? Doubt it!
By the way... Hows yours your medical insurance bill?
Why don't you poll the people at Russell and ask them what they think about the union before you open your mouth!!!

[Jender]

Another why regular working people hate unions.

[Chucky from Russell Disposal spinned the story]

Chucky spinned the story to the media. Chucky needs to come clean on how he treats his employees. Peopple often forget that this country was built on unions. How many illegal immigrants does chucky employee? More than half his employee's went to the teamsters union asking for help. Chucky put fear in his employees by telling them that if they diddnt come to work today, they wouldnt have a job. Chucky needs to stop sniffin the powder and start thinking of fair labor. His employees have no sick days, no vacation, no pension etc..

[Humberto]

who was dancing around with a sombrero? As I latino union member I took offenese.

[russell employee]

well i will start by saying,i work for chuck russell.whether i am for the union or not is really not the issue here.I can tell you that the union was never around russell disposal until the revere contract talks.which is a capital waste contract now(union local 25).after russell won the bid there,the union came around(seemed like the next day)!!
yes there are many guys at russell that would like the union(more than the 6 stated in newspaper).the question now is how can these guys (union)go to russell with "strike" signs?put locks on gates?and keep hard working guys from doing there jobs?(or try to).
I cant understand why anyone trying to get employees to sign on with union would want to make them pissed at them?why would you want to stop them from working?keep them working til,8 p.m.,when they could have been done at 2 in the afternoon?i dont get it.
if this union thinks that enough guys want the union,why dont they take a vote?a vote like every election in u.s.?give us a ballot and let us vote?with no recourse,no treats,no strong arming?wouldnt this save everyone a lot of time?and a lot of trouble?
before the locks were cut and riot police were activated,i spoke with swat team officers.they didnt want to be there,or be involved.one said he had a daughter to bring to airport,and other things he could be doing!!

UNION.LOCAL 25.
JUST HAVE A SECRET BALLOT VOTE!!END ALL THE BULL,LETS GET BACK TO OUR LIVES!!
you dont need to be calling us scabs,etc..
we are not a union,how can we be scabs??
you take a real vote,then ,what happens happens.
these stupid tactics wont work here.it only makes russellemployees,police,media,all the guys working late in the holiday season pissed!!dont be stupid!!dont piss of the guys on your side!!

[Marge]

I am 85 years old and have seen all types of union activity - bad and good. Boys just get along!

[rachelfromtheville]

well said, Russell employee. i wish you guys luck and peace in the workplace.

[Imux]

Russell employee, good luck. Bring your louisville slugger tomorrow to work. I've dealt with unions before and they understand that and payoffs. Nothing else works.