Technical workers picketing the Sotheby's office in New York
Source: artinfo.com

Last weekend, visitors to the office of Sotheby's in the upper East Side welcomed not only important doorman: technical workers staged an auction house on the sidewalk in front of the building picket. In the hands of the protesters were holding banners which read "Stop fighting with us." protest was a reaction to the actions of the company, suddenly interrupted the peaceful course stretching from May talks with union leaders . for several months trying to negotiate with management on the conditions of Sotheby's new employment contract: the period of the previous document has expired in early July.

Last Friday, the 43 members of the labor organization officer Sotheby's were notified that they will not be allowed to work and do not receive wages for as long as the parties not agree on a new union contract. At the time of the lockout Sotheby's will hire temporary workers instead of employees - union members. "They think that by doing so will put pressure on us, and we accept their conditions," - says a former clerk Sotheby's Jason Ide (Jason Ide) , leader of the local branch of the trade union Teamsters Local 814. However, the union is not going to concede. According to Ida, the amendments, which now offers the administration of Sotheby's, differ little from those of the auction house would make a contract at the beginning of negotiations - in particular, we are talking about future reductions tehsluzhb oldest employees in unions, and decrease the duration of the workweek.

spokeswoman Diana Phillips, Sotheby's (Diana Phillips) said that the auction house is negotiating in "good faith "and the terms of the proposed contract described as" attractive. "In an e-mail, sent it to the Artinfo, Phillips, referring to the lockout, says:« Sotheby's did not want such an outcome of events. "spokesman of the company also reported that other labor organizations representing the interests of employees, was proposed by the administration of Sotheby's condition.

trade union organization is planning to picket the auction house all week. "The press has quoted Sotheby's leadership that they are willing to spend fair to conclude the agreement as long as necessary. now is obvious to everyone that in fact this is not true, "- says Jason Ide.

previously quoted statements in the press about Ida that technical services workers may resort to strike, although they consider it "an extreme measure." However, according to Diana Phillips, the threat of a strike was announced by both the negotiations and in media reports, was the main reason for the decision of a lockout. " We have repeatedly threatened to strike, which could happen at any time, and the fall season will open bidding next month. We needed to make personnel moves that would provide our customers with uninterrupted service in a quiet mode ", - explained Phillips.

During the negotiations in 2004 Sotheby's also announced a lockout that lasted then for three weeks, and employees of technical services, as well as today picketed the auction house. But, according to Jason's Aida, "while the company was completely different financial situation. "Today the situation is different, says union leader, for the last year had to Sotheby's extremely successful. Profit Sotheby's has increased in 2010 compared with the previous year by 17 percent and amounted, according to official figures, 161 million dollars, turnover increased doubled to $ 4.8 billion and annual revenue of CEO William Ruprecht (William Ruprecht) also has more than doubled and amounted to about six million dollars. "It is evident that the wage does not match the size of profit" - Ide laments. - It's not a factory, where workers' wages rise by five cents unfailingly leads to higher prices for products ».

Diana Phillips referred to the lockout in 2004 as a precedent:" In previous years, Sotheby's did not allow technicians to work on unspecified conditions in the absence of a collective agreement that protects the company from possible strikes ».

According to Phillips, the union proposed an increase in the number of its members in the ranks of the company 18 people - that is 42 percent. Phillips pointed out that with such a scenario, Sotheby's would have to contain technical personnel in excess of their numbers in the company of Christie's, and this despite the fact that the New York office of Sotheby's exhibited in 2010 for sale at 54 per cent less lots than their largest competitor. It is curious that successful for the union negotiations with Christie's in 2008 had all the same Jason Ide, who was then raise the hourly wages and increase the number of union members in the ranks of the company. According to Ida-like conditions he put forward in the negotiations with Sotheby's.

the aggressive tactics of the leadership at Sotheby's in negotiations, you may need a law firm Jackson Lewis LLP, dealing with issues of labor law: its representatives auction House hired to participate in negotiations with the union. Jackson Lewis - one of the largest law firms in the U.S. specializing in labor issues, and it proved to be a very hostile toward unions. Last week, hundreds of members of trade unions across the country gathered near with offices Jackson Lewis, to protest over the role played by the company in the recent dismissal of 68 workers at BMW in Ontario (California).

Jason Ide believes that the lockout could have serious consequences not only for specialists tehsluzhb, but also for the auction house: "I am seriously concerned that they (Sotheby's. - AI. ) have involved a group of temporary employees. Sotheby's - it's not Museum, and the volume passing through the hands of staff of art is great. Requires a really great experience to work quickly, without it causing damage to the works. "Diane Phillips confirmed that the auction house using the services of temporary workers, stressing that these events did not impact on customer service and that Sotheby's «will work as usual." She assured, "Sotheby's staff is fully equipped and credibility».

Jason Ide said the union intends to "inform sellers , buyers, dealers, museums and auction houses, "the current status of the company. According to him, before the lockout," the talks were in the normal rhythm. "" We barely managed to touch the ground "- said the trade unionist. However, the negotiations union with the auction house should continue next week.

Wednesday Artinfo correspondent visited the rally organized by trade unions, to support their fellow workers in addition to Sotheby's, it came to members of organizations working in other companies. The composition of the protesters turned out varied - from non-professional artists to employees of the Technical Service at Sotheby's in its third generation. correspondent Artinfo spoke with some employees, many of them claim that had surrounded the work, worth tens of millions of dollars more time than any auction expert.

According to the picketers Roger Ousley (Roger Ousley), who worked in Sotheby'sokolo six years, every day at work he has to deal with things worth about 100 million dollars.'s colleague Julian Tisch (Julian Tysch) also said that very often employees tehsluzhb Sotheby'snesut responsibility for the safety and condition of the world's most important works of art. Sim Jones (SimJones), who works in the company Sotheby'stselyh 42 years, revealed that he refers to works of art almost as a "living beings with" because each one is unique. Jones said staff at all the technical services "invisible heroes". Other picketers also shared details of the technical staff of life Sotheby'si told that their duties includes not only work in the office, but also deliver and install art works in the home owner. One of the protesters said that he often has to stay at work and that there were occasions when he remained in office until midnight.

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< strong> Source: artinfo.com , artinvestment.ru

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