Police Link Crimes to Strike at BMW Mtn View

Mountain View police report 10 incidents at the local BMW dealership since a strike began seven weeks ago. Although no one has been arrested and police have no suspects, police are accusing the strikers in local media.
"My guess would be that the majority are peaceful and wouldn't do anything wrong, but one or two bad seeds can ruin it for everybody," a police spokesperson is quoted saying in the July 17 issue of the Mountain View Voice.

Police told the local paper that in one incident a potential customer alleged that a conflict with the strikers escalated to the point of a brief physical altercation. Another man claimed that a striker spit on his car causing "minor damage". He was not able to identify the alleged car-spitter in a police line-up.

A manager at the dealer claims that he was followed in his car by some of the strikers and sent thinly veiled text message threats.
Convertible tops have been ripped and tires slashed on BMW's on or near the lot according to police reports.

Union leaders have no knowledge of the vandalism, but say they can't help but wonder if at least a few of the cases were caused by dealership management trying to make them look bad. As for customer complaints, one striker said that BMW owners have little sympathy for the working man and woman, siding instead with the dealership because they are likely to be managerial class themselves.

The strike started seven weeks ago after AutoNation sought significant cuts to health benefits and vacation time, insisting the technicians work at a flat rate to bring their pay in line with other dealerships AutoNation has acquired across the US. The car repairmen and women say a flat rate would lead to shoddy and rushed work forcing them to work longer hours for the same pay. Members of IAM (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace
Workers AFL-CIO) Local 1101 in San Jose, they voted unanimously to strike.

“Our members weren’t asking for the moon, just to maintain their current standard of living. They enjoy the work they do and the service they provide the customers,” said IAM negotiator Jim Schwantz. “The IAM has always worked with reasonable employers who need help during troubled times, but this company is asking for much more than it needs.”

Two weeks ago, AutoNation actually offered the workers less, not more, than what the auto dealer giant had offered before the strike began, said union leader and shop foreman Gary Jones.

Strikers have begun referring to AutoNation as "Auto Nazi" due to the harsh and unyielding position the ownership is taking. AutoNation is America’s largest automotive retailer, with 321 new vehicle franchises in 15 states. Despite lower vehicle sales, the company posted $4.0 billion in revenues in the first quarter of 2008.

Talks resume tomorrow at the Mountain View BMW Office, known as Allison BMW, at 10 am. This will be the first time union negotiators meet with management at the Mountain View location, although previous discussions have been held at other sites. Strikers will walk the picket line in front of the building most of the day, bringing their families and serving hot dogs. The Raging Grannies will lead songs of solidarity from noon to 12:30pm.