Castlewood Workers Back to Work

61 employees will be returning back to work more than two years after being locked out of Castlewood Country Club due to a contract dispute.

Sarah Norr of UNITE HERE Local 2850 says the disputes is not over and that the workers will be working under their old contract.

"This is a major victory- not just for Castlewood workers but for workers everywhere," she said. "This is such an extreme case that people around the country have been watching. It is a significant win but the dispute is not over. We will continue to have actions at Castlewood."

A press release from the UNITE HERE Local 2850 says:

"On February 25, 2010, Castlewood Country Club workers were locked out. On October 16, 2012 – two years, seven months, and 21 days later – they will return to work.

We want to thank everyone who stood by the workers throughout a long, hard campaign – who marched across Pleasanton, brought Mother’s Day flowers for hunger strikers, donated to the hardship fund, spent 12 hours in Santa Rita, and so much more. Without your support, we could never have achieved this victory.

And workers still need your support today. Although the lockout is ending, the fight for justice at Castlewood continues. We have not (yet!) reached an agreement on a new contract or on back wages for locked-out workers.

For now, workers will go back under the terms of their old contract, which provides strong seniority protections and affordable family health care. (See below for more detail on the status of the legal case and the negotiations.) The boycott of Castlewood will stay in effect until a full settlement is reached.

“I’ve been praying for this day to arrive,” said Castlewood janitor Maria Munoz. “I feel really happy now, and thankful to all the people and organizations and churches and bands who have come out to support us. And most of all thankful for my co-workers, who were always out there looking out for each other – I feel lucky that they’ve become like family to me.”

The end of the lockout is a tremendous step forward for this campaign and a historic victory for all working people. We invite you to celebrate with us – and to show Castlewood that we’ll stand with the workers in this new phase of their struggle.

Join us for coffee and donuts at 6:15 am on Tuesday, October 16 at Castlewood, and show the workers some love on their way in to their first day back at work!"

Journalist Marnette Federis contributed to this report.