Union Calls for Boycott of Anaheim

Frustrated by a 10-month labor dispute, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has called for a boycott of all Anaheim businesses, including Disneyland and the city’s sports franchises.

“We intend to use financial pressure to get the city’s attention,” Willie R. Stewart, spokesman for IBEW Local 47 and its 187 members said Friday. “Our patience is running out.”

City Manager James D. Ruth acknowledged that the negotiations with the city employees are deadlocked, but said the union’s boycott is “unprofessional and not practical. . . . Anything that hurts the city hurts the union as well.”

Union members perform a variety of tasks for the city, including maintaining high-voltage utility lines and poles.

Stewart said the union sent letters to other labor unions throughout the state earlier this month asking their members to “refrain from traveling to, visiting, or spending money in the city of Anaheim.” He said the request is being honored by hundreds of union members.

“It’s having an impact,” he said.

Allan B. Hughes, executive director of the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, said none of his members have “seemed to be hurt by the boycott.” He added that he thought the union’s protest was “stupid” and “blackmail.”

“Anything they do to hurt the city puts them in a worse position,” Hughes said. “It’s counterproductive. I can’t imagine why they are using this as a bargaining tool. It doesn’t make sense.”

John McClintock, a Disneyland spokesman, said the company was unaware of the union’s action. He declined to comment about the situation other than to say Disneyland “welcomes everyone” into the park.

If the wage dispute continues, Stewart said the electrical workers in Anaheim may consider a strike. “It’s something that we don’t want to have to do,” he said.

The IBEW members have been working without a contract since July, 1993, and have not had a raise since July, 1991, union officials said.

The electrical workers have asked for a 3.25% raise this July, with a 3.5% raise the following year. Additionally, they have asked for a “job security provision” that would prohibit the city from contracting out work that would lead to layoffs of electrical workers.

Under the city’s last proposal, the union was offered a one-time signing bonus of 5.5% of a worker’s salary this year and a 3% raise in July, 1995. No job security provision was offered.

Ruth said the city’s offer was “very, very fair” and noted that the electrical workers in Anaheim are better paid than their colleagues in surrounding areas. The union, however, disputes the notion that they are paid more than other electrical workers.