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Two nearly identical resolutions supporting Claremont spa workers in their classic, labor/corporate battle will surface at tonight’s City Council meeting — one by Mayor Shirley Dean and the other by Councilmember Linda Maio. 

Maio’s name, too, has been surfacing as the progressive’s best chance at Dean’s seat in November, but as of yet she has not announced her intentions. Labor endorsements will likely be key in November’s citywide election. 

“The official resolution that would result from this would be a combination of the two,” said Dean.  

She added there was “absolutely” nothing political about her decision to ink a resolution condemning Claremont Resort and Spa for several alleged anti-union activities —including the recent suspension of four employees.  

And the support from city council on either side of the table is much appreciated, said Stephanie Ruby, the secretary treasurer of Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union Local 2850, AFL-CIO.  

“They have totally tried to abuse and misuse the tragic events of Sept. 11th., pointing to it being a financial hardship and reason for not paying their workers living wages,” Ruby said. “But this is the same company that after Sept. 11th spent $150 million in buying a resort in La Costa.” 

“Claremont Spa has launched an anti-union campaign and here is the community and the political power structure saying ‘Especially in these times there shouldn’t have to be a fight.’  

They are the outsider in all this. The community is clearly saying ‘you can’t pay people poverty wages. You can’t walk all over other people’s rights to free speech and right to organize,” she added. 

Ruby said the workers have not voted to go on strike but are gearing up for a huge picket line rally on Valentines Day at Claremont, and that she anticipates a long, grueling battle ahead. 

Claremont General Manager Todd Shallan and Spa Manager David Nelson were unavailable yesterday for a comment but the company is soon expected to release a public statement in response to Council’s proposed resolution. 

“They have not been responsive so far,” Dean said. “I’ve received one letter from them — it didn’t explain anything — it just said they hoped I would look at both sides of the story.” 

Oakland Vice Mayor Jane Brunner, a labor and employment attorney, said she too thinks the union and their members are in store for a long, hard battle with Claremont management. 

“After suspending the workers for handing out leaflets — that indicated to me that this was going to be a hard fight,” Brunner said.  

Brunner says she too will soon ink a resolution to support spa workers and expects it will pass with little difficulty in Oakland. Oakland is still trying to agree upon the language and the perimeters of that resolution. But she says she would encourage extreme caution before throwing around words like strike and picket line because they pose added risk for the employees. 

“We’re showing that we support the workers being able to unionize,” Brunner said. “In a union struggle I don’t think we have anything, in particular, we can do to shut them down. Basically, you have to use your office to do a few things — take a stand, mediate a resolution. If we were subsidizing a project, we would have more control.  

Brunner said Claremont’s tactics come as no real surprise to her.  

This happens all the time,” Brunner said. “It’d not good — but it is typical.” 

Contact reporter: 

devona@berkeleydailyplanet.net