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Where's Jeff?
updated: Jul 11, 2012, 9:20 PM

By Edhat Subscriber

I am wondering what the story is on the sign carrying protesters in front of BDC today. I was told they said "Shame on you Jeff Bermant," and it makes me wonder what he is/was doing now? Have any idea what the latest Rape of our Environment is ?

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 296583P	2012-07-11 11:33 PM
If its the shame on crowd, they are paid picketers hired by a union out of Camarillo who pays them min. wage with no benefits. That union has been pretty much disavowed by the other local labor unions for both tactics and at times targets for their "actions" in both north and south county.
COMMENT 296591P	2012-07-12 06:37 AM
What/where is BDC?
COMMENT 296595	2012-07-12 06:51 AM
It has absolutely nothing to do with "raping the environment." They are hired protestors paid low wages with no benefits by the union. They are ordered not to speak to anyone that asks them what the are protesting for, they can only give you a flier pointing you to a website. They negatively effect nearby business as well as their message is so unclear. It's just another example of how pathetic modern day unions have become.
COMMENT 296597P	2012-07-12 07:05 AM
583P, you seem to know more then you've already stated. Care to put a name to this 'union'? Or who backs them?
COMMENT 296602	2012-07-12 07:20 AM
these folks are outside in front of the Post Office, so it makes it like the PO has done something, but the signs do not explain, and no one else seems to have a defined explanation either, what is up?
COMMENT 296611P	2012-07-12 07:29 AM
The sign in front of the P.O. said "Shame on Steven Ainsley" - no idea of who, what, or why, so I figured it was some sort of art installation.
COMMENT 296616P	2012-07-12 07:37 AM
As 583P said, the protesters are minimum-wagers paid by a union that is whining because the general contractor rebuilding Goleta Valley Hospital didn't hire subcontractors who employ union workers. The union is making a ridiculous attempt to 'shame' hospital board members -- who had nothing to do with hiring subcontractors. The 'protesters' mostly have no idea what they are 'protesting' (and many don't speak much English). They have been posted outside the businesses and even homes of the board members. Most people who see the signs agree that this union tactic is beyond silly, it's stupid, and just makes the union look like a bunch of whiners -- which they are. (BDC = Bermant Development Corp ?)
COMMENT 296631	2012-07-12 08:10 AM
611P - Very awesome! "The sign in front of the P.O. said "Shame on Steven Ainsley" - no idea of who, what, or why, so I figured it was some sort of art installation." I love it. Art installation! I might look at all those signs a little differently now. Thanks for the smile.
COMMENT 296635	2012-07-12 08:25 AM
If the workers holding the signs don't say anything how is it folks know that they are paid minimum wage and are without benefits? I worked for a company that was protested by them and got to see them outside my office window; they have little umbrellas built into their pvc sign holder that looks pretty inefficient but is pretty cute. Anyhow, I don't see that they are much of a deterrent to the business being protested.
COMMENT 296656	2012-07-12 09:02 AM
It is creating backlash against all unions. Voters will remember these thugs at election time when you see candidates carrying large numbers of union member endorsements. Everyone they are naming in these banners are civic leaders in this town. Who gain more and more sympathy every day these goons remain blocking our sidewalks and streets. Be sure to give extra support to any business or persons targeted by these paid shill union rabble-rousers.
SBJULES	2012-07-12 09:09 AM
This voter supports unions. otherwise everyone will be earning minimum wage and that is not good for the economy
RESIDENT	2012-07-12 09:21 AM
To say that everyone would be earning minimum wages without unions is an interesting idea. Think it through though - people will continue to be paid based on their ability to negotiate a salary and the competition for their desired job. The employers will pay as much as they need or can afford to, based on the availability of needed skills and the number/quality of the applicants. There may have been a time when unions were a good thing for workers. But with the government now regulating what employers can or can't do, the unions in many cases are only a good thing for the union bosses.
COMMENT 296672P	2012-07-12 09:23 AM
Observations from the last 30 years - unions have decreased, middle class wages have flat-lined and the wages of the rich have increased astronomically. The demise of unions will mean that the US will sink into third world status with respect to the middle class. That is because corporations seek maximum profit with minimum wages. Why do you think so many jobs were shipped overseas to low-wage, inhumane labor factories. So that wealthy corporate raiders could have multiple luxury homes, some with car lifts - all on the backs of raided pensions for which the taxpayer had to foot the bill.
COMMENT 296675	2012-07-12 09:30 AM
This and many other voters are sick of the general bashing of labor unions. Get specific about what you think is wrong and stop demonizing the majority who bargain in good faith and end up with good results for both management and workers.
COMMENT 296677P	2012-07-12 09:32 AM
RESIDENT - please explain why corporations today are sitting on the biggest amount of cash EVER, and yet people are underpaid or underemployed or unemployed. The ONLY factor driving job creation is the buying power of the middle class. With the bulk of the US revenue going to the top 5%, none has trickled down to the middle class. The tax cuts at the start of the 2001-2008 presidential term, were supposed to create jobs - but the lowest number of jobs were created in that 8 year stretch than in the last SEVENTY FIVE years. So when the statement is made to "give tax breaks to the job creators", that is a huge LIE, and born out by the facts. The job creators have been been hoarding their increased revenue while the rest of the country struggles daily. And the unions have been made the scapegoat, which is also patently false.
COMMENT 296688P	2012-07-12 09:44 AM
"Get specific." OK. Ex. 1. I worked for a big business for years. I knew more than many others in my job classification, worked harder, was responsible for more, accomplished more with less help, and was paid the same or less than them because workers are paid by classification, rather than competence and ability. That's what's wrong with most unions. Mediocre work is paid the same as good work, so what's the incentive to work hard and get better? Ex. 2. A relative now works for this same big business. The union has refused to allow her to be reclassified because then she would no longer be a union member. She wants to be reclassified; her boss wants her reclassified; she works in a unique, very responsible job. She is stuck where she is because the union doesn't want her reclassified out of jobs they control. I'm not blanket anti-union. My aunt was part of the "stewardess" union years ago that fought against being fired when you got married, and all stewardesses required to be young, single, attractive women. When you do good like that, you get supported. When you pay crappy performance as well as superior performance, or hold someone back from advancement so as not to deplete your ranks, you've gone down the wrong path. Back to the original topic. Those "shame on" signs reinforce most anti-union biases, and make me patronize those being protested. The research has been done before on these paid, non-union, minimum wage workers, who are standing there. It's insulting to our intelligence and integrity.
COMMENT 296692	2012-07-12 09:47 AM
These signs are such an EYESORE and I think responsible for Cafe Shell going out of business since they were always posted in front and blocking the street view from customers. They are huge and serve no purpose other than creating ill-will towards unions and a blight to the downtown. Would the City Council FINALLY do something about these signs, even if it means passing a new law about the size of protest signs allowed. These are easily over 8' long. Just because of my frustration with this union, I would go out of my way not to hire a union worker next time I need a carpenter.
COMMENT 296696P	2012-07-12 09:50 AM
These unions are so ridiculous in their tactics! They set-up a sidewalk vigil with scummy looking ignorant protestors just outside the Doc Bernsteins ice cream store in Arroyo Grande for over 1 year. They were wrongfully protesting Docs- who was merely going to occupy a new space in Santa Maria mall that wasn't refurbished by union workers;they should've been in front of the mall owners place- not the future tenant! Finally citizens of AG had enough and assembled a cash mob and showdown with the union to get them to pack it up. The city of AG even tried to mediate. Eventually union left.
COMMENT 296722	2012-07-12 10:14 AM
Google the following: "Shame On" Protesters It's all over the US, not just here. These guys are a plague. I don't blame the actual protesters too much (it is rather tough to get a job right now), but I agree with 692: I'd go out of my way to hire non-union people because of this. Also, to the people wanking about "How do YOU know?" - this topic has been brought up again & again, and numerous links have been posted regarding the protesters and "Shame On" campaign, as well as some people posting what people have been told when they spoke to the protesters. The commenters here are not just making stuff up, this has been going on for yours and years, and there is LOTS of info out there regarding the whole situation.
COMMENT 296741	2012-07-12 10:44 AM
union=bully( former local 12)
COMMENT 296750	2012-07-12 10:57 AM
Puhleeze!! So do you condemn all churches because of the reprehensible tactics of the Westboro Baptist protesters? It's been said that the Shame On group is a national fringe group and that the local unions do not condone their methods or actions. One only needs to open a history book to understand what free-run corporatism does to an economy and our country.
COMMENT 296758P	2012-07-12 11:05 AM
597p google shame on protesters and santa barbara the info should be there. I saw a article in the Indy and the Santa Maria Weekly on it a few months ago.
COMMENT 296764	2012-07-12 11:17 AM
it's funny that the union hires non-union employees to picket a business for using non-union employees..... can you say... practice what you preach
COMMENT 296801	2012-07-12 01:19 PM
Teachers union own the state legislature and pass volumes of teacher protection regulations have choked out schools to be ranked among the worst in the nation. Unions poison every industry they touch and drive it out of business. Now they are poisoning schools and cities - into bankruptcy. Your tax dollars are now going directly into public employee union bosses pockets and used to buy even more union-friendly legislators to choke more out of you until you stop sending these union goons to Sacramento. Every election you have choices but because the unions siphon so much money in mandatory dues, they have millions to mislead you every single election. You can starve unions at the ballot box with you votes. And you can learn to stop putting unions on the both sides of bargaining tables on city councils, boards of supervisors and education board of trustees.
COMMENT 296852P	2012-07-12 03:34 PM
These signs have now been around a long time. If a local business were to put up such advertising signs they would run afoul of the sign ordinances. Why can these folks get away with having these ugly signs up without the proper permits?
DEE D	2012-07-12 07:53 PM
Unions are the only way for workers and employees to balance the power of corporate employers. Only by uniting into organizations representing employees did we get safe working conditions, 40 hour work weeks, overtime, and representation for wrongful treatment in the workplace. My grown child recently survived the attempted privatization of his workplace because his union paid for a lawyer with labor expertise who was able to prove that the private contractor was guilty of extreme malfeasance in the attempt to oust union workers. Without the union, every person in his department was on track to be "out-sourced." Individual employees cannot negotiate on a level field. Germany requires every corporate board to have employee representatives, a rule the U.S. modeled to them during the Marshall Plan years. We are losing our middle class, and the demise of unions is paving the way.

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