PLEASANTON — Castlewood Country Club and its surrounding neighborhood in the Pleasanton hills is usually quiet, a secluded area southwest of the city limits where, among the amenities, golfers can pick a hillside course or one through a valley.
But for the past three months there have been almost daily demonstrations, with protesters carrying picket signs and megaphone-led chanting to break the silence.
About 60 unionized food and maintenance workers were locked out Feb. 25 in a contract dispute that doesn’t seem to be ending.
“We’re hopeful this will end soon,” said Sarah Norr, union representative for Unite Here! Hospitality Workers Union Local 2850. The local represents about 60 workers, including cooks, servers and dishwashers.
Their hope, she said, is based on pressure being put on country club management by local politicians and churches stepping up on the behalf of workers — as well as by workers who are standing by the union. An attempt to end the union’s representation lost in a 41-17 vote, which Castlewood is challenging.
However, Castlewood management says it has the support of club members. And both sides say that in the three bargaining sessions since the lockout began, their proposals have been about the same.
“It’s a good offer,” said Sam Singer, a Castlewood spokesman.
Health care is the main issue in renewing the contract that ended in September. Currently medical benefits are fully covered
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for employees who work a minimum amount of hours. The union, which says workers average $12.50 an hour with hours ranging from 16 to 172 hours a month, said Castlewood’s proposal has workers paying $739 a month for family coverage.
The union’s proposal calls for those workers to pay $225 and to have money offered by Castlewood for raises to be put toward health care instead.
Singer, a consultant working for the club, did not have details but said Castlewood was asking less than the union says and that worker claims that the union’s proposal is less expensive are not true. The club’s proposal would fully pay for single coverage, instead of asking those workers to pay some.
Singer said the lower health insurance payments from the club are needed because Castlewood, owned by a little more than 800 full-members, has been losing revenue. The number of those members, who pay about $25,000 for initiation and $600 a month for dues, dropped by about 30 in the last year. Additionally, there has been a drop in banquets and other business, also related to the economy.
Singer said the club has 90 nonunion employees, such as administrative staff and groundskeepers, who already have started making higher health care contributions.
Francisca Carranza, 45, of Union City, was one of five people in a hunger strike that took place Mother’s Day weekend in an attempt to end the lockout. A Castlewood janitor for 16 months, she said her husband stopped working in March due to a heart condition and that a daughter who helped her two children living at home was laid off.
“Basically, nobody’s working,” said Carranza, who is getting by with unemployment insurance payments, donations and union funds for hardship. She said they are looking for other work, but it’s hard.
Politicians have also pushed for Castlewood to end the lockout. Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty has sent a letter, as did Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi, D-Hayward, other state lawmakers. The Pleasanton City Council also passed a resolution encouraging both sides to resume bargaining, although one member was opposed, saying the city was taking sides.
Pastor Randy McGrady-Beach of John Knox Presbyterian Church in Dublin said several leaders of local churches have gotten involved, including by collecting food.
“Since we’re part of the community, we want to be part of the solution,” said McGrady-Beach. He questions why the lockout was needed and the high medical costs proposed, but said he won’t take sides and is open to talking with Castlewood officials. “There’s concern when people have been locked out since Feb. 25,” he said.
Ken Jacobs, chairman of the UC Berkeley Labor Center who spoke at a union-organized town hall meeting on the issue, said lockouts are uncommon, especially in the absence of the union taking action beforehand, like with a one-day strike or work slowdown.
“A lockout in this circumstance is rare,” said Jacobs. Among the problems for employers, he said, are employee relations when the workers return. He also said the amount proposed for health care seemed unaffordable for the workers. “It seems like the intent is to get them to not have health coverage.”
Singer, meanwhile, said the club has been running smoothly and has the support of members. He said Castlewood respects those who support the union, but that they do not know all the issues.
There are no bargaining sessions scheduled.
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