TROUBLES FOR DEAN POLL PERSIST AT THE BOATHOUSE AS STAFF WALK OUT

The recurring saga  which has developed since last year between the Hotel Union and the Central Park Boathouse restaurant is heating up ever stronger. The union's leader Peter Ward and restaurateur Dean Poll who operates it along with his brothers Gellis and George, are confronting each other through   a walk out by several dozen workers who walked off their jobs Tuesday (8/8) afternoon to protest alleged labor violations by the eatery's management. They displayed signs at each of the eatery's entrances and were joined by some workers who had been fired recently by Poll.
The restaurant continued to serve customers after the noon walkout, although the dining room was largely empty. Some patrons approaching the restaurant decided not to enter upon encountering the approximately 45 striking employees.
The strike is meant to pressure city officials to intervene and force the Poll brothers to negotiate with the union, or to get the city to cancel his contract with the Parks Department, which adds more than $3 million a year to the city's coffers. In a statement, Mr. Ward emphasized that the alleged violations occurred “on city property.”
The National Labor Relations Board is investigating 25 charges brought on behalf of the workers by the union. The workers allege that managers interrogated employees about their union activity and threatened to close the restaurant if the drive succeeded. The most serious of the charges contends that 14 employees were fired in retaliation for their support of the union.
The bulk of the charges have been referred from the labor board’s Manhattan office to its Division of Advice in Washington for an ultimate ruling, a source close to the labor board said. Among the issues being decided upon is whether the board will issue an injunction against the Boathouse, which could force it to hire back the workers, among other stipulations, the source said.

Lisa Fickenscher[+] Enlarge

Dozens of workers walked out at Central Park Boathouse Tuesday afternoon.

The Bloomberg administration has so far steered clear of the controversy. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer wrote to Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe in June, urging him to cancel the Boathouse contract because of the allegations of intimidation and retaliation. Mr. Benepe wrote back last month saying it would “be imprudent and premature” to act on the charges until they are fully adjudicated.
“At such a time as the issues referred to in your letter are more fully explored and we have the benefit of decisions by the appropriate forums, we will take action appropriate to the situation,” Mr. Benepe wrote.
"The city is not party to this disagreement," the parks department said, in a statement. "[Mr. Poll] has met all of his obligations to the city under the agreement."
It seems clear that the union is mounting a large campaign. There were union supporters and staffers fanning out throughout the park wearing yellow t-shirts emblazoned with “Dump Dean Poll,” and handing out a pamphlet with the same message expressed in 20 different languages. A giant inflatable rat was also stationed at the entrance to the park at West 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

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