The corner is quiet now and has been for a few weeks. The strikers are gone. They have been vindicated after an arbitrator found in their favor and against Napleton Cadillac of Libertyville. Congratulations to them.

The full decision can be read here. But in it, the actions of the employer were found to be unlawful, and the testimony of management was often found to be not credible. The decision uses words like “fabrication” and “piffle” in describing what Napleton management employees claim happened. The decision is worth reading. Some of the actions by Napleton appear to be especially vile — terminating a man out on disability leave, pushing out tens of thousands of dollars of strikers’ tools to be ruined in rain, and other instances of retaliation for their union activity (joining the union).

As stated in the original article below, if all employers were fair and just, unions would not be a necessity. But that is not reality. When Erwin Weil ran the dealership, he was fair and honest. The workers did not join a union because they were treated with respect and honesty. When ownership changed, so did the treatment. And that’s why unions are so powerful and so very, very necessary. They protect those who could not protect themselves alone.

This writer is a teacher at a local school district. I am also the union president. The administrators at this district are fair and honorable. While we don’t always agree, there is a true feeling of mutual respect and trust. That has not always been the case in the past. And contrary to many conservative opinions, having a union and union leadership helps the district in working with employee relations and working through problems that may arise.

In my opinion, a school district or corporation that is run fairly, competently and honorably is one where the union leadership and the management work hand-in-hand together to promote an atmosphere of cooperation and respect. If management does not respect the union, it does not respect the workers. Period.

See original article below:

For the past month, residents of Libertyville, Illinois, or anyone driving up Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville, have been struck by an unusual sight. In front of a few car dealerships, including Napleton Cadillac, workers are on strike. The strike has been going on for a relatively long time.

When Erwin Weil owned the Cadillac dealership in this Northern Chicago suburb, he was quoted as saying, “You get what you pay for” about the ads that he appeared in. In the ad, Weil said, “I’ll make it worth your Weil.”

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