AI recently reported conflict between the union and management and technical personnel auction house Sotheby's and the negotiations between the parties, held the evening of Monday, July 11 . Earlier, trade union leaders spoke to the effect that the company wants to "gut and remake 'contract with the union in one of the most successful periods in its history. In last year's financial report of 2010 is named "terrific year": the company's profit increased by 74 and amounted to 4.8 billion dollars.

now know the results of which took place in New York meeting: despite expectations of a trade union leaders, Jason Ida, the dialogue has not turned in a constructive and satisfactory solution has not yet been achieved. "Most of the time it took account of trade union positions, and we had to appoint a few more dates to continue negotiations", - said Ide, representing 43 employees Sotheby's, consisting in the union. "To the economic side of the issue to go until we have failed».

term contract with a company union had expired recently, in early July, but discussions on the new version of the document began on 12 May this year. This week's meeting of union members with the leadership of the auction house, as it turns out, is the ninth attempt to reach agreement. "We are very concerned about the direction that took negotiations", - concluded Jason Ide after hours-long meeting. Ide does not exclude the possibility to go on strike, but union save up it as a last resort. "But we are ready to strike if needed" - he said.

union at a meeting held on Monday fully rejected suggestions
Sotheby's administration to make concessions when a new union contract. The company has insisted on the abolition of trade union positions as foreman and assistant foreman, as well as replacement of 12 old workers with new employees, non-union. The auction house also offered reduce the working week by two technicians and a half hours. The union, however, insists on the dismissal of all employees who are not in its ranks, and to again increase the number of technical staff to 60 people - union members.

Jason Ide said that 50-60 union members for a long time constitute the backbone of the staff working with art in Sotheby's. The company usually hires another 5-10 temporary staff during the high auction season, and that these positions are union also wants to retain. non-union workers earn 13 dollars 25 cents an hour, and they provide no benefits and social guarantees. Starting wages of union members to date - $ 16 per hour, and in addition they provided a social package.

«Today's talks focused on the reasons for which we refuse to amend the agreement on the terms Sotheby's, - said Ide. - Sotheby's is thriving. We believe that is a bad time for the proposed their actions. "He added that skilled workers better cope with their duties, provide better preservation of lots, which is especially important to buyers.

What are the arguments put forward in favor of the company of his proposals, and remains unknown. Jason Ide on this occasion said: "I'm still trying to grasp the logic of their arguments." According to him, pushing the company to the fact that the previous auction brought the amount below the prior estimate, but as rightly said Ide, recent auction of contemporary art in London staged an incredible record, bringing the largest rescue in the history of London's bidding. "I just can not imagine what might outweigh this argument," - says union leader. Mr. Eide has consistently emphasized: "The company is very profitable , she has no financial problems. It looks like they're trying to play on the negative in recent years against the trade unions in general ».

representative of Sotheby's declined to comment on the results of the negotiations, citing a statement made earlier, in which the company promises to take everything in her power, stressing that the auction house "has a long history of constructive mutually beneficial relationship with the unions representing [his] employees, and in previous years, always enter into contracts, based on justice and recognition of the rights and achievements of workers."

In 2008, Jason Ide, now representing the interests of employees, has successfully completed negotiations on the union contract with the rival Sotheby's, auction house Christie's, having achieved a significant increase of salary and increase the number of union members in the ranks of the company (from 41 to 50). Starting level employee of technical services at Christie's is 17.5 dollars per hour. (A curious detail: Edward Dolman, head of Christie's, leaving this post soon for a new senior position in Qatar, started his career as a simple technical officer.)

Ide said that the then negotiations and progress in their course, fully comply with the union, so that the auction house not to worry about before the expiry of the contract: "In the near future at Christie's did not have any problems with the staff, which is not the Sotheby's». The trade union committee currently uses the same arguments that were used previously in negotiations with Christie's. But Jason Ide said the difference in mood managers of companies: "Representatives of Christie's, listened to our argument, saying:" We think the union in this matter right. "Negotiators Sotheby's yet never say anything like that ».

For Jason Ida, the head of one of the New York offices of the largest U.S. trade union, a second serious talks with Sotheby's. Mr. Ide, a former employee of the technical service joined the company in 2004 and assumed his current post in 28 years, after actively participated in at least the preceding discussion of the difficult trade-union agreement in 2008. He was the initiator of the strike fund, and also able to persuade the company to 20%raise the minimum wage, which was a result of his efforts of the then 15 dollars 89 cents per hour.

Prepared Estrova Maria, AI

Source: crainsnewyork.com , < a target = "_blank" title = "ARTinvestment.RU - Investing in art - Statistics auction sales of works of Russian artists: paintings, sculptures, antiques - Investment Risk Indicators" href = "http://artinvestment.ru/"> artinvestment.ru