Filmmaker Moore holds rally in support of unions

Unions attempting to organize local Borders Books & Music employees received some help yesterday from an anti-corporate icon.

Michael Moore, director of the popular "Roger and Me," a documentary about the closing of General Motors plants in Flint, came to Ann Arbor to help drum up support for attempts by Borders employees to unionize their stores.

"This is not like dealing with Roger Smith," Moore said, comparing Borders management to the former GM President he hounded in "Roger and Me." "I can tell you from my own experience, (Borders executives) have a conscience. They do care deeply about their people. They're different from a lot of corporate America."

Moore and a group of about 100 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union held a rally at Ann Arbor Theaters 1 & 2 yesterday afternoon, then marched to the Borders corporate office on Maynard Street to present a petiti

LOUIS BROWN/Daily Michael Moore, director of "Roger and Me," holds a rally outside of Borders Books & Music on Maynard Street to support unionization.

on asking the company to stop anti-union activities.

The petition was collected by Murray Coleman of Borders' labor management department. Coleman promised to pass on the petition, but made no further comment.

The Borders union movement is featured in Moore's new movie, "The Big One." Moore shot the movie over 2 1/2 weeks while on a book signing tour that brought him to several Borders outlets where employees were picketing. The movie was screened at the Ann Arbor 1 & 2 yesterday.

Moore said Borders management has a "blind spot" when it comes to unionization. He met with Borders president Richard Flanagan last year to discuss the unionization issue. He said Flanagan is afraid of unionizing Borders because it will disrupt the corporation's culture.

The primary demand of the Borders employees is higher pay. "The biggest reason people have (to form a union) is because they can't afford to work there," said Jason Chappell, a bookseller from a Borders outlet in New York City, one of four stores where employees are unionized.

Chappell said the starting wage at the Borders where he works was less than half of what the New York state government calculates for a livable wage.

Borders spokesperson Jody Kohn said unionization is not necessary because Borders already treats employees well.

"We don't believe that a third party is needed or wanted," Kohn said, adding that the Borders corporation has been very generous with its employees in the past.

Bookseller Elena Rosen, who works at the local Borders, said she was unhappy that Moore came. Joining a union is a serious decision, she said.

"It's important to look at all the issues, and not to look at it in a farcical way," Rosen said. She said that Moore's visit lacked seriousness. "He's come here to subtly mock us."

Most people at the rally said they were incensed by the steps Borders has taken to prevent unionizing.

"They do a lot of what they call 'captive audience meeting,' where they invite four managers and like six employees," said Marissa Didur-Gire of UFCW's communications department. In these sessions, managers and employees discuss the pros and cons of going union. Bookseller Tom Griffin called it "a stressful situation, especially on young employees."

Moore said he was upset by this and other "union-busting" tactics. "It's immoral, it's obscene, and it should be stopped."

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