Seattle Press on Line - City Leaders Back Science Center Workers

Labor Day Dispatch

City Leaders Back Science Center Workers

City Councilmember Judy Nicastro mingles with union representatives and Science Center employees at a news conference on the Seattle Center grounds.

Aug 23, 2000 -- Elected officials lined up on the side of Pacific Science Center workers last week, urging Science Center management to let workers make a free choice in an upcoming union representation election. A majority of workers have signed union cards with Local 6 of the Service Employees.

But Science Center management is conducting a vigorous campaign against unionization, forcing workers to listen to strong anti-union attacks and writing personal letters to each worker.

"We just want to be able to make a free choice in an atmosphere that's free of coercion and intimidation," said Melissa Metzger, a science interpreter.

City Councilmember Judy Nicastro met with workers on Seattle Center grounds Thursday and said Science Center management is intimidating workers and should maintain a neutral position on whether or not their employees want a union. Nicastro and councilmember Heidi Wills, who also met with workers and spoke at a press conference, are introducing a city council resolution that would reaffirm workers' right to choose a union if they wish. "Management should stay out of it," Wills said. "Its the workers' decision."

King County Labor Council Executive Secretary Steve Williamson speaks to Science Center workers at a news conference outside the Science Center.

The King County Labor Council is "ratcheting up the pressure to let workers have a free choice," according to Steve Williamson, KCLC Executive Secretary.

"This campaign is a good example of community leaders coming together to support the rights of workers." He said King County Executive Ron Sims, County Councilmember Kent Pullen, City Council member Nick Licata, Mayor Paul Schell and several other public officials were calling for a free-choice atmosphere at the Science Center, which receives a large part of its budget from public funds.

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