it was interesting to read in another account of the protest yesterday that the Club has hired a private PR firm to answer community and press questions. I know from experience that the retainer paid to bring in outside PR counsel was probably far more than settling a couple of months of meeting these workers' demands. Someone on the Castlewood board has their priorities backwards.

From the other account of this event, posted yesterday @ SFGATE.com:

(06-12) 16:48 PDT -- Picketers marched outside a swank, sprawling Pleasanton country club during a high-profile golf tournament today to mark the 100th day of the club's employee lockout.

About 60 members of Unite Here Local 2850, plus Assembly members Tom Torlakson (D-Martinez) and Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), toted signs and chanted "Castlewood, you're no good" at an entrance to the historic Castlewood Country Club.

Beyond the gates, the club was hosting the 51st annual Men's Invitational golf tournament.

"The lockout is cruel and cold-hearted and unjust," Torlakson said. "These workers, some of whom have been loyal here for 15 or 20 years, have been mistreated terribly."

The club locked out 61 cooks, maintenance workers, janitors, bartenders and other employees in late February over a contract dispute regarding health insurance. The club wanted employees to chip in more for health care costs, up to $739 monthly for family coverage, while the union contended the amount was too steep for employees who earn, on average, $12.50 an hour.

A club spokesman called the union's action "misdirected energy."

"Instead of attempting to pull union members from far and wide to create a nuisance and disturbance to the club's operations and our neighboring homes and businesses, it should be reviewing the fair offer it has on the table for the benefit of impacted members," said Adam Alberti, vice president of Singer Associates, a public relations firm Castlewood hired to handle the issue.

Read more: Web Link

Sam Singer is a spin doc who's all about big money to make the good guys look like the bad guys.

He often works with the Catholic Diocese in the bay area to make it seem that the survivor's of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy are all about being GREEDY pathetic adults. They may have been raped and tortured sexually when they were 4-17 but they are guilty for making the abuse happen...so contends Sam Singer.

He has never cared about further traumatizing already traumatized survivor's. He has a task and if completing that task harms others...Sam Singer believes...oh well.

The public image of Castlewood has been SERIOUSLY DAMAGED and that's why Singer has been called in.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK UNION MEMBERS...LOUDER! LOUDER!

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK UNION MEMBERS...LOUDER! LOUDER!

AMERICAN IS PROUD OF YOU!

I've heard that some of the workers have already been told by a member of the club that she will never give them another generous tip or a xmas gift ever ever ever ever again.

Everybody is distraught that they will never again receive their 13 cents a quart perfume from this granny gossip again again again...omg!

This maintenance worker, Francisca Carranza says she wants to keep fighting for many more months. I would think that the employees would want to go back to work now. Not in many more months. My question to her would be, who's paying for your health care NOW. The employees have already lost thousands of dollars in wages. Maybe The Union leader should ask ALL the employee's if the club's contract is acceptable to them. The Union should do something because I don't think the club will.

we will all have to be patient and hope for a win-win solution.

Its pathetic how the so called high class members of castlewood country club behave. They are not only rich and rude; they really lack of class. The best thing they can come up with is to insult employees, sometimes they just show them the finger; way to go castlewood. It is always good to see when someone shows its real colors. Having money doesn't grant class; unfortunately for the members that is something that cannot be bought. Honestly its difficult to believe that they got offended because some employees make noice in some of the few events that are still being held in that place. Its impossible to understand that there are people that are about to lose their houses, even worst, they don't have money to pay for their food and expenses and castlewood feels offended for their events. As usual if you feel like just posting ignorant comments instead of giving real arguments, please be my guest; after all what can be expected from people like the so called high class members of castlewood country club. HURRAH for your real class if you manage to buy it. HURRAH

Dear members: I believe that the Union is not doing their job right, I'll give you credit for that; the Union should be more effective with their boycott against the club's business. When in a human being body cancer is found; a chemotherapy treatment has to be administered although step number one is to remove the tumor. If it was possible to compare a human body with Castlewood country club, the lockout would be the cancer and James Clouser would be the tumor. To remove cancer from a body the treatment has to be very strong. Unfortunately for the club members when they realize that the real problem is their board of directors, specially their president; it is going to be to late for them. Probably that place is going to go public before that happen. It is amazing how greedy can be the rich people sometimes, in the process of making employees and their lives miserable; they are going to end with their own club. HURRAH for the club members and specially their president Mr.Clouser for the great job that he is performing. I honestly believe that he should be reelected again. HURRAH for him

I know I mentioned this before but I'll say it again. As usual if you feel like just posting ignorant comments instead of giving real arguments, please be my guest; after all what can be expected from people like the so called high class members of castlewood country club.

HURRA for the president of castlewood country club, or should I say the TUMOR of castlewood country club? HURRAH

Has the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce taken a position on this dispute? Haven't heard anything from the Chamber about supporting the firing of all the unionists and replacing them with more compliant workers. Does anyone know?

Employees are that, workers; not slaves. Unfortunately for the Club and all the people that don't know what is to fight for a fair cause or something that is worth it, the employees are not going anywhere if that is your question. I really feel pity for Castlewood because nobody is going anywhere; that is not about to happen. So the sooner you accept this fact; the better for you.

HURRAH for the members, their patience and understanding. The workers are going to stand there until they break the board of directors and its president Mr. Clouser. By the way, you should ask him what is going on because he know that he lost this battle already. HURRAH for the workers.

JAMES CLOUSER never thought that the workers and the Union were going to put a fight like this. He thought his arrogance was going to be enough to defeat the rights and ideals of the workers. Obviously he doesn't know the meaning of those words. HURRAH for him, don't you think the same? I'm pretty sure that he is going to be remembered as the best president of that place ever. HURRAH for him

The President of Castlewood country club that tried to break the Union and the workers but the only thing he broke was the Club. The only thing that he can be credited for; is for dividing the club members and their interests. Way to go Jimmy, HURRAH for you.

Vote for Jimmy. HURRAH Elections on 2011. HURRAH

I say Jimmy because if I say James, it sounds like the man knew, knows, and will know what is he doing. On the contrary Jimmy sounds like a little kid that still needs that mommy change his diapers. HURRAH for Jimmy.

Dear observer,

Your continuous rambling posts only further discredit you and you position.

Observer of Dublin, since you seem to be convering this story and writing most of the posts, please answer one question. Why hasn't rank and file, at anytime, voted on the final offer presented to them by Castlewood? This is only the third time I have asked this question without getting a response. Try to answer the question without adding all your negative unproductive dribble. Calling names and trying to create more of a scene adds no value. I have never seen a union act this way. Final offer is just that, present the offer to rank and file, do not recommend, but please vote and go back to the table. The business reps are not representing the majority of the locked out employees and if they believe they are, a vote will show their accuracy of their position.

Would you vote for an unfair contract? who wants to vote for a contract that tries to take away your rights, seniority, and your health care. Under the club's proposal some employees could earn more money if they consider that the worker's performance is superior to the rest of the coworkers. If you think that for real employees that deserve a rise are going to get it and not friends or people that get along with the management; honestly that proofs that either you are very naive or you are one of the members that are involved in this situation. You need to read the articles more carefully, There are about 61 employees working for Castlewood country club; 41 of them are willing to fight for a fair contract, 17 decided not to do it and just accept an unfair proposal not because they want to, but because they are afraid; also 3 people didn't vote. If someone can't understand that probably has never fight for something that is worth it such as dignity and ideals; Clear enough? If not, you should go and ask one of the employees that are picketing why they are doing it.

About my rambling comments, if you think that they are negatives, it is because you can't deal with the truth. The truth is not bad but it hurts. What is a lie? That the arrogant board of directors and Jimmy thought that the employees were not going to fight for a fair contract? Unfortunately for them some people know the meaning of dignity; obviously the board of directors are not included. If Jimmy is your friend; I'm not the one that should be blamed for. To be someone's friend means also to be alike and that is not my fault if that is your case. As I said before tell me what is not true? Poor soul, do you really think that I compromise my position because I'm telling the truth and you cannot digest it? HURRAH for the members and their dignity if they manage to buy it. HURRAH

Observer of Dublin,
You still didn't answer the question as to why you will not let the employees vote on the contract offer that is on the table. Let them vote and if they reject the offer then you have a stronger case to present to the management. If they accept it then they come back to work. It's really pretty simple.
Also your chant of "We don't get healthcare, you get no peace" is really not true is it? What you really mean to chant is "If we don't get FREE healthcare, you get no peace".
The ship on free family healthcare has sailed and you're left on the dock screaming for it to come back and it's not coming back. Get over it.

To c-hood, a resident of the Laguna Oaks neighborhood.
You said that my continuous rambling posts only further discredit me and my position.
On the contrary; you reinforce it. I'm glad that you only could post a plain negative comment that lack of arguments and couldn't make a valid statement because you just proof my point. Unfortunately for you, right now you have two problems. Problem number one: The lockout employees are not going anywhere and the sooner you digest it; the better for you. Problem number two I'm going to keep saying the truth and again,the sooner you digest it; the better for you because that is not about to change.

Of course that doesn't answer your question, I'll say it again, don't ask me; ask the employees. I don't know what is that part that is not clear because you can listen very nice songs everyday in your golf course so you know where to find the answer. I really hope that you finally understand that I'm not giving you answering your question; I'm telling you where to find the truth.

By the way how was your invitational tournament 2010? What is really pathetic is that a membership that used to cost about 45k five years ago and now barely cost more than 10k, and you feel happy and satisfied. Honestly most of people would think that it is pitiful but what can be expected from you; am I right?

Odserver of Dublin, or Union Rep? "Clear enough!!!!!!" Are you kidding me? I can't even follow your dribble. You still have not answered the question. Hurray for your ignorance! Vote the final offer!! "Before you compromise?", I'm surprised you can even spell the word let alone understand its meaning. Once again you have taken the position to insult or attack someones integrity as opposed to looking for a settlement. Hurray for you, we would not have known how ignorant you were until we read your dribble. Another uneducated person trying to claw their way to the top using innocent employees under the guise of an Union unbrella!

Facts:

Nischit is Observer. This is part of his job.

CCC Union Members are asking their union reps everyday to vote on the current contract. The Union Lead won't let them because it is not in the best interest of the union. The workers want to accept the current contract and go back to work. Call ON WEI LING to let them vote.

CCC has incurred one time costs as stated in the article but the savings that will help make the club more competitive is 5 times that in just 3 years; you can do the math beyond that. It is the right decision for the club and a very competitive wage for the workers. The current contract on the table offered by CCC is very fair and very competitive to market rates.

The Club is not experiencing the pain or lost revenue that the Union was expecting so that is why people like Observer/Nischit are now so agressive. It is their only option. The Union will push the limits on what is legal beyond what the limits they have pushed on what is ethical.

The fight will not end this year and it will be the Union's fault because they care more about winning then doing what is best for their workers. They have no argument back to CCC on the facts about the competitive offer that CCC has brought to the table. Their only argument is that it is to expensive for the small percentage of workers with families. They are looking out for the few and not the many in their approach.

those are the facts. Observer just states opinions and union dribble.

Oberver from Dublin. Congrats to you, you have successfully removed me from one of your conditional supporters. You are responsible for turning a huge percentage of the Castlewood members against the Union. HURRAY!!!!!!!!!! Hope you can look yourself in the mirror in the morning and say what a great person you are!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's all the flap about Castlewood providing health coverage for workers, doesn't Obama care solve that problem.

Observer

Get over it. You just "celebrated" 100 days of being locked out without your employees receiving a paycheck or healthcare. You will watch the 100 days turn into 200 then 400 because the Castlewood members have the resolve to with stand your pathetic chants.

Like I said, the ship has sailed on the healthcare issue and you are standing on the dock all by yourself. Won't be long before the employees turn on you when they realize you can't take care of them any longer.

Agree with Facts.

It is clear that Observer is Nischit and this is part of his desperate PR campaign.

He is trying to make claims that castlewood is being impacted and how the union is stronger by the day. Well, they have not been paid in over 100 days and have not received paid healthcare. The union pays them 200 dollars a week for groceries plus they get unemployment from the state. But no paid heatlcare, what about their pre-existing conditions? What if they get sick? they can buy Cobra but the cost of that is a lot higher than what the club is offering the employees.

Nischit how are you helping the workers that get sick? It is CLEARLY the Union's fault that they are out of work and don't have helatcare. The Union did not come to the barganing table until the day before the last contract was about to expire. Old tactic but is has cost the workers their healthcare. Nice move Nischit. 15 more days and the workers are without healtcare for July then August and so on. But you hear the Union chant, One day longer without healthcare 1 day stronger. It is just a Union lie.

It is the Union's fault for this situation. Castlewood is doing what is best for the CLUB and THE WORKERS. A stong club means they will have above average work and above average compensaiton at a club that will be around for the next 10 - 20 years. That is what is best for the Workers. What is best IS NOT the Union's very short sided view of the situation and Nischit's rich vs. poor negative PR tactics.

All castlewood workers call your union boss and ask for a vote. Demand a vote.

I participated in the tournament this last weekend. Were the protesters there? I thought I heard them but then I heard loud music drowning them out. They were a non factor. Another great tournament.

To bigdoggomes, a resident of the Castlewood neighborhood
Two things: First of all I don't know who is Nishit and second I couldn't care less if you or someone else support me; the last of my worries is if I lose conditional supporters. This is not a popularity contest; don't be naive. About the members that you say that used to support the Union and because someone states facts (no comments) by internet, they got offended and don't support them anymore; you also just made my point. Castlewood members are mainly people who lack of values, class, and courage to stand for something that is not fair, not even for them; the lockout. Dignity is something that cannot be bought and you are the proof of it my dear member; you lack of it.

I'm glad you enjoyed your tournament and all the music because from now on that is what you going to have everyday. Although I honestly believe that the next wedding that the Union decides to get involved in, they should be able to contact you, so you can be completely aware of what is going on there. I'm pretty sure that focusing the boycott on weddings will fix this situation in a couple of weeks.

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Just imagine, two hundred people that assist to each event and all of them telling the whole world what kind of place is Castlewood. Tell me its not great; am I right? What else? let me see. Could you imagine if every single father of the bride file a lawsuit against Castlewood? I'm pretty sure that it is the solution, what do you think? HURRAH I really wish you good luck because you are going to need that and more when the Union finish with the Greedy Castlwood country club. HURRAH for the club and all that is about to come. HURRAH

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Observer from Dublin, what is a Nishit? Please pay attention to the e-mail. Not mine. Why do you keep stirring the pot? I need to apologize, you can't possibly be connected with the management of this Union, I would hope they're smarter than that! The membership going from 45k to I guess you know more than anyone else,10k, is exactly why we need to control expenses. It does not work the other way. If you think the protesting dictates the cost of the memberships, your are truly mistaken. The economy would be my guess. Once again I'll ask for a vote to be taken by the union rank and file. Present the final offer and let the chips fall where they may and if the offer is rejected, continue negotiating to a settlement. If it is accepted, move on! Note, being disrespectful to Mr. Clouser will accomplsh nothing.