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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Morton Grove During the Baby Boom: Carl Eckhardt, His Filling Station and the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters
We wax nostalgic in our Morton Grove history posts. The research is fun and interesting. The posts are pretty popular too. So I've been poking around, looking for fresh material on Morton Grove people, places and things from the "old days" suitable for research and writing. It is an easy call to work toward a post or posts about the Poehlmann Bros. greenhouse operation, but not for today. The firm opened in Morton Grove in 1887 and was a major local employer until it succumbed to the Great Depression. Poehlman Bros. was a sprawling, nationally known and immensely successful business, at its peak said to be "the largest of its kind in existence."
Ad in the Evening Times (Grand Forks N. Dak.), November 13, 1911. "We are distributors for this territory for the famous Poehlmann Bros. Co, the largest, most modern, best equipped flower growing establishment in the world, employing the most skilled workmen and producing flowers that command the patronage of the most critical public, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Winnipeg to New Orleans.
There is a mountain of accessible research material on Poehlmann Bros. It will take quite some time to sift through the materials and organize thoughts. In the meantime I've been looking for projects that can be digested and presented in more readily manageable chunks. So I poked around looking for 1950s and 1960s material on Morton Grove public schools, especially District 70 and Park View School, which I attended, hoping to find newsworthy items. I used the name "Eckhardt" in a few searches, keying off of Edward E. Eckhardt, who was superintendent of schools and unquestioned authority during my nine years (K through 8) at Park View. Entering "Eckhardt" together with "Morton Grove" in search engines turned up plenty of hits in the news clipping services. But very little was on Edward. Almost everything was on his brother Carl. Some of the best finds are accidental. There are dozens of reports on Carl's decade long standoff with the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters. The brotherhood was an irresistible force. It encountered a man who was an immovable object.
Brother Carl and his modest two pump gas station on the northeast corner of Austin and Lincoln avenues, stood toe-to-toe against the the teamsters union. The union local he took on was so tough that it prevailed time and again in internal turf battles fought against the Jimmy Hoffa led national union. Carl insisted on principle. The teamsters insisted on dues and more dues. Carl withstood pressures that made his competitors wilt. Litigation and lobbying ensued. The resulting publicity revealed Carl's mettle and exposed the seedy side of the United States labor union movement.
Carl Eckhard was born in Germany on November 27, 1907 to Russian born parents. In 1914 his family immigrated to the United States. Carl became a naturalized US citizen. He resided with his parents at 8721 Fernald Ave. on Morton Grove's south side. As of the US Census in April 1940 Carl lived still with his parents, working as a beer salesman earning $1,560 a year -- worth about $25,000 in today's dollars after accounting for inflation.
1940 US Census, Eckhardt household, 8721 Fernald, Edward, the youngest son attending college, was on the next page.
Later in 1940 Carl bought a service station. After World War II broke out, Carl shut down the service station for the interim in order to enlist and serve in the United States Army. Carl was a patriot. He believed in the blessings of liberty.
Carl R Eckhardt - WWII Enlistment RecordCook County, Illinois
Enlisting at the age of approximately 32 on April 28, 1942, Carl R Eckhardt was a a technician 3rd grade in the Ordnance Department branch of the Regular Army Reserve during World War II. At the time of enlistment, Carl R Eckhardt was separated, with dependents, and had an education level of 1 year of high school.
Carl served in the 601st Ordnance Batallion.
American Legion Reunion, April, 1970
601st Ordnance Battalion Heraldic Crest
Design approved July 31, 1942
Continuous service of supplies for the organization is depicted by the rotating presence of strong arms in armor issuing from the cannon muzzle.
Each holds an important item representative of ordnance.The wrench and wheel are symbolic of prompt maintenance.
The sword and pistol represent total preparedness and strong defense.
Motto: "SERVICE ABOVE ALL"
Campaigns: World War II -- Tunisia, Rhineland
Carl's battalion kept the army moving by servicing and maintaining vehicles. His military service in Africa and Europe no doubt honed Carl's mechanical skills for use in his post war employment.
Karl was past commander of Morton Grove American Legion Post 134, an honor which was proudly embroidered on his uniform cap.
Carl Eckhardt spearheaded planning and fund raising and then presided over the opening of the Legion "Home" at 6140 Dempster Street in Morton Grove.
Many of us of a certain age recall that there once were two carnivals held at Linne Woods every summer, the Morton Grove Days event which continues to this day, plus a carnival separately sponsored by the American Legion. I remember the American Legion Post 134 well for its carnivals,
The Daily Herald, July 11, 1957
its sponsorship of Memorial day parades, and
The Morton Grove, American Legion Post 134, Memorial Day parade makes stops for ceremony
at the WW I doughboy statue in front of the Morton Grove public library on Lincoln Avenue.
its Friday night fish fries. Catholics, Protestants and Jews alike gathered for a repast that was rooted in the Vatican's since relaxed decree that the faithful abstain from consuming meat one day a week. I recall my youthful mind being perplexed on how the fried fish at night at the Legion hall could be so delectable, while the Park View School cafeteria fish sticks we had for lunch were barely edible. Speaking of the American Legion fish fries, the Cook County Board of Commissioners recognized Morton Grove legend "Tad J. Kimura continued his tireless philanthropic endeavors on behalf of his community when he created the Friday night fish fry at the American Legion to raise funds for Legion charities. The dinners have been a civic focal point for 44 years drawing 400 people a week." Completing the circle, the Chicago Sun Times years back reported "Service station owner Karl [sic] Eckhardt befriended Mr. Kimura soon after he moved to Morton Grove and got him to join the American Legion."
Carl served on the Legion board for a quarter century and was honored with a plaque commemorating his service.
The Niles Bugle, August 21, 1975
Carl also served as President of the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce. He was the fourth resident of Morton Grove to be recognized as VIP of the year by the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce, included in this august list.
1985 Dodee Connelly
1984 Fred Huscher
1983 Pastor G Boldt
1983 Rabbi L Charney
1983 Rev. Eugene Faucher
1983 Rev. C Miehlke
1983 Rev. C Ramseyer
1982 Tad Kimura
1981 Lawrence Schulte
1980 Phillip Cancelleri
1979 Carl N Graf M.D.
1978 Edward Eckhardt
1977 Carl Eckhardt
1976 Paul Connelly
1975 Chris Hildebrant
1974 Robert Lutz
And important for present purposes, during the baby boom Carl served as the independent owner/operator of the Standard Oil service station on the northeast corner of Austin and Lincoln in Morton Grove.
Images of America, Morton Grove, Mary Busch and Tim Mayse-Lillig, p. 118.
Carl Eckhardt, along with other owner/operators in the Chicago metropolitan area, was invited on a shakedown cruise sponsored by the International Brother of the Teamsters. Unlike the others, Carl ignored the inducements and refused to jump on board. The ensuing saga received extensive press coverage, especially by the Chicago Tribune. From this point forward, we will let the newspaper clippings do most of the talking.
Chicago Tribune, August 24, 1955
An Old Soldier Fights Picket 'Enslavement'
BY JOHN H. THOMPSON
Carl Eckhardt has no labor dispute with his employees, never has had. Since May 24, however, a picket line from an AFL Teamsters union affiliate has effectively blocked all deliveries to his filling station and automobile repair shop at 5944 Lincoln Ave. Morton Grove.
The one man picket line is there because Eckhardt, alone among the 19 filling station owners of the village, has refused to sign a closed shop and dues check-off contract with local 705, Truck Drivers, Oil Drivers, Filling Station and Platform Workers union. Deprived of gas, their economic life blood, the other owners have signed, one by one.
Flag Tops Dry Pumps
Eckhardt a World War II veteran and civic leader, is in a more fortunate position. Dry pumps have cut his income one-third, taken his savings for a vacation and surgery. Auto repair and upholstery service, however, have kept him going.
Eckhardt, who came here from Germany at the age of 6 with his parents, and who volunteered for the army in 1942, although above draft age, isn't about to give up. An American flag flies above the dry pumps and the strains of "Old Soldiers Never Die" over a loud speaker keep the solitary picket company.
The picket yesterday also had the companionship of Bruno Fillipini, business agent for local 705. Fillipini organized the other station owners and put the picket line at Eckhardt's.
Union 'Can't Understand'
"I can't understand why Eckhardt doesn't sign up like the others," Fillipini told a reporter. "We organized the employees at their request, raised wages from an average of $50 a week to $80 and lowered working hours from 60 to 48."
Chicago Tribune, August 24, 1955
"That's nonsense," said Eckhardt, "When the union team moved in on us May 16 they never tried to sign up any employee, just the owners. I have always paid the union scale or above. My men work eight hours a day. I start at 5 a. m. and finish in the evening."
Only one, possibly two, of Eckhardt three employees would be eligible for the union. He told Fillipini that if he could sign up any employee, he, Eckhardt, would pay the $25 initiation fee and $3 a month dues. Fillipini's reply was the picket line.
Only Hope New Law
Eckhardt, 47, and his wife, Helen, 42, who live next to the station in a five room ranch type home, had placed their hope in senate bill 592 after the national labor relations board told them it handled no cases involving less than 50 employees.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. W. Russell Arrington, (R-Evanston) would prevent picketing of small business concerns by unions which do not represent the employees. Approved in committee, it was withdrawn on the floor when the sponsors though it would fail to gain enough votes.
Albert Topp Jr. and Harry W. Gabrielson, partners in another Morton Grove station, who had been with Eckhardt, sought legal help. They obtained a temporary anti-picketing injunction, but it was set aside by the appellate court pending a full hearing. Economic issues forced the partners to drop the suit, and sign a union contract, said Eckhardt.
Warns of Enslavement
"This picketing thing is as wrong as anything possibly could be," said Eckhardt, president of Morton Grove's Chamber of Commerce, past president of the America Legion post, and director of the village civil defense. "My primary interest is in getting them [pickets] away from the front doors of everyone who as the same problem as I do. If we don't we'll be enslaved."
The Eckhardts have appealed to President Eisenhower, Gov. Stratton, senators, congressmen, official agencies. They have received a lot of sympathy, but no help. Their hope remains in new legislation.
Two days after reporting on Carl, the Chicago Tribune editorialized its full throated support, saying Carl was "A MAN WHO STANDS UP."
Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1955
On May 24 a business agent for the AFL teamsters local that hauls gasoline to filling stations dropped in at the station of Carl Eckhardt in Morton Grove and invited him to enroll his employees in the union. The employees weren't asked to join. The proposition to Eckhardt was that he sign a closed shop contract and withhold his employes dues from their pay.
Eckhardt refused to sign. His employees are still working for him. But they aren't pumping any gasoline. Upon his rejection of the union demand a picket appeared at his station and stopped all gasoline deliveries. That is the union strategy that has been successful in shaking down scores of filling station owners in the northern suburbs. If they don't kick in to the union they don't get gasoline. All but Eckhardt are kicking in.
No attempt was made to interest employees in union membership. There was just the application of brutal economic force to the bosses. Many stations are operated by two or three partners. The union, in these instances, compelled all but one of the owners to pay dues. This is obvious extortion. The union can't do anything for them in return for their dues.
Eckhardt, civil defense director of Morton Grove and former president of the village's chamber of commerce and commander of its American Legion Post, is trying to keep his employees busy on repair and upholstery work, but without gas sales he isn't making any money.
He is a man of courage as well as principle. We have seen, in recent years, a good many big corporations give in before unjustified union demands, rather than stand the expense of a strike and the scurrilous abuse that is so often heaped on a corporation executive who stands up for the rights of his stockholders. Eckhardt might have legal protection if the spines of some Illinois business men had been as stiff as his own.
Chicago Tribune, August 26, 1955
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce sponsored a bill at the recent session of the legislature to stop this shakedown picketing. Introduced by Sen. Arrington [R., Evanston]. It prohibited picketing where there is no dispute between the employer and the employees, or to force employees to join a union or the employer to recognize the union as their representative.
The pressure in this instance came, not from union bosses themselves, but from members of the legislature. They pleaded with the staff of the state chamber of commerce not to push the measure which would force them in their votes, to make a choice between public opinion and the labor political machine. The sponsorship was withdrawn and the bill stricken form the senate calendar.
Since the national labor relations board, for reasons that are not wholly illogical, set a policy of refusing most cases involving fewer than 50 employees, eventual protection against this abuse must be found in state law. But meanwhile union practice amounts to extortion. Criminal proceedings seem possible. They should be started to stop this outrageous practice.
Before getting lawyers and litigators got involved Carl Eckhardt's primary defense to the picketing was musical.
Traverse City Record Eagle, June 4, 1955
MORTON GROVE, ILL., June 4 --(UP) -- Carl Eckhardt, a gas station owner, began playing the record "God Bless America" when pickets showed up after he refused to sign an agreement with the AFL Oil Truck Drivers Union.
I've worn out one record by Gene Autry and now have one by Kate Smith," he said.
Here we insert the Autry performance preferred by Carl.
Local businesses and citizens banded together to support Carl Eckhardt.
Chicago Tribune, September 4, 1955
GROUP FORMED TO AID PICKETED FILLING STATION
Morton Grove Residents Help Owner
A group of Morton Grove business men and residents have joined into a committee to help Carl Eckhardt, 47, filling station operator at 5944 Lincoln, Ave. in the community, in his conflict with an AFL Teamsters union affiliate.
Eckhard's station has been picketed by local 705 of the Truck Drivers, Oil Drivers, Filling Station, and Platform Workers union since May 24. Eckhardt, alone among 19 gas station owners in the village, has refused to sign a closed shop and dues checkoff contract with the local.
Members Listed
Chicago Tribune, September 4, 1955
The chairman of the committee is Richard Fuhr, president of Morton Grove Lumber company. Among members are Edward A. Gallagher, automobile dealer; Herman Groya, hardware dealer; Robert Krier, restaurant operator; Edward J. Miller, electrical engineer; James Moore, foundry executive; William T. Taminga, decorator, and Marvin Von Aswege, banker.
Fuhr said the committee would be incorporated not for profit. The purpose of the group is to educate the public of dangers to civil liberties by what is known as "recognition picketing" which was described as an effort toward unionizing employees. Members said they want to help Eckhardt personally and other business men who may be affected similarly.
Fuhr said no specific plans have been drafted yet to aid Eckhardt. The group proposes, however, to encourage Morton Grove residents to patronize Eckhardt and to help him financially. Some village residents have shown a disposition to make donations to the filling station operator, Fuhr added.
Refuses to Sign Up
"Since everybody we talked to seemed to think action should be taken, we took action," Fuhr said. "We hope that by formation of this committee we can crystallize sentiment against picketing and make our voice heard in Springfield and for that matter in Washington, too."
Eckhardt refused to sign up for a closed shop and dues check-off on the ground that the union had no members among the Morton Grove stations. Union truck drivers have refused to cross the picket line.
Later in 1955 Carl Eckhardt began a journey for relief through the legal system that would last almost a decade.
Chicago Tribune, November 3, 1955
PICKETED GAS STATION OWNER GOES TO COURT
Carl Eckhardt, 47, operator of the filling station at 5941 Lincoln Ave. Morton Grove, which has been picketed since May 24, filed suit in Circuit court yesterday seeking an injunction to stop the picketing.
The complaint, filed by Atty. William P. Treacy, names as defendants local 705 of the Truck Drivers, Oil Drivers, Filling Station and Platform Workers union, and union officials.
Eckhardt charges in the suit that the union demanded that he enter into a collective bargaining contract for his station's employees, even tho none of his employees had requested him to recognize the union. The suit states that as a result of the picketing, "certain steady customers" have refused to patronize Eckhardt's station, and that the union's action would compel him to "coerce" his employees in their choice of collective bargaining representatives.
Carl Eckhardt testified in his lawsuit. He dismissed hearsay accusations of the union business agent.
Chicago Tribune, November 26, 1955
UNION PRESSURE TOLD BY FILLING STATION OWNERS
Takes Stand in Suit to Bar Pickets
Carl Eckhardt, 47, Morton Grove filling station owner, testified yesterday to pressure from an AFL teamsters local in trying to "organize" him and his three employees. He appeared at a hearing before Master in Chancery Nathan M. Cohen at 209 S. LaSalle St.
Under questioning of his attorney, William P. Treacy, he told how Bruno Fillipini, business agent for local 705 of the Truck Drivers, Oil Drivers, Filling Station, and Platform Workers union, had demanded he sign a closed shop contract with provisions for dues checkoff.
He said he paid wages above union scale and on one occasion gave a worker who asked for $75 a week $80 because he had a family to support. The union contention was that 18 other filling station owners in the village had signed contracts which had raised wages from an average of $50 a week to $80 and lowered working hours from 60 to 48 a week.
Seeks Picket Injunction
Eckhardt is seeking an injunction in Circuit court against union picketing of his gas station at 5944 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove, contending that there is no labor dispute in his place of business.
Daniel Carmel, union attorney, cross-examined him after he told of harassment by pickets. Since May 24 he has subsisted on auto repairs and upholstery service.
Eckhardt said Fillipini had told him the contract the union offered was "the only one they had and I would have to sign it." He repeated under cross examination and questioning from the master in chancery that he would be willing to sign a union contract if the union persuaded his employees to joint it and they requested it.
Denies Dismissal Threat
"Fillipini testified you would fire any employee who joined a union?" Atty. Carmel asked.
"I never said that," shot back Eckhardt. "I had no quarrel with the union. I invited them to organize my men, if they could,, but they never did. I have said before and I will say again that I will gladly sign a union contract if my own employees tell me that they belong to the union and want the union to bargain for them."
Eckhardt is a World War II veteran, civic leader, president of the Morton Grove Chamber of Commerce and past president of the American Legion post.
Carl Eckhardt and associates moved for relief from the "racket" picketing on legislative as well as judicial fronts.
Southern Illinoisan, April 25, 1957
Charges Made In Picketing Bill Hearing
Springfield, April 25 (AP)
Charges of "racket" picketing have been leveled against Illinois labor unions in an effort to win passage of a controversial anti-picketing bill in the state Legislature.
The accusations were made Wednesday by owners of three small businesses before a session of the House Industry Committee meeting to hear testimony favorable to the measure. Opponents of the bill will testify in two weeks when the committee decides whether to send the bill to the House floor.
J. Walter Nelson of Evanston, Leo Bennett of Pekin and Carl Eckhardt of Morton Grove cited instances where locals carried out organized picketing against their establishments in order to get them to sign union contracts. Nelson and Bennett said they gave in and signed but Eckhard said he refused. As a result, he added, his gas station is still being picketed after nearly two years.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Harold Widner (R-Freesport) and nine others, would ban picketing of an establishment where no labor dispute exists between employers and employees.
"Small businessmen are the helpless prey of labor unions," Widmer charged at the hearing. "This is not an anti-labor bill but an anti-racketeering bill."
Eckhardt testified picketing of his gas station by a teamster's union local began in May 1955. He said his employees were against joining the local and for that reason he refused to sign up. One of his workers was threatened and coerced, he said.
Nelson told of pressures brought by a laundry and dry cleaners local union to force him to sign up. His employees, polled in a secret ballot, voted to stay non-union, Nelson said, but after 20 pickets were dispatched to his cleaning firm he gave in and had to "sell" the union to his employees.
The bill has been in the Labor and Industry Committee, which consists of over 30 members.
One of the bill's sponsors wrote a op ed piece on what he was doing and why for his hometown newspaper..
As one of the sponsors of the bill I felt -- and so did other legislative sponsor -- that the subject was of such enormous importance that the full story from the witnesses themselves, should be heard by all the state representatives represented in the entire House.
Accordingly, the chief sponsor filed last Thursday a request that the committee be discharged, and the hearing be brought before the House as a whole.
This is one bill which I want to see passed, because it will give protection against labor rackets for the first time to the many little firms such as Carl Eckhardt's gas station in Morton Grove, which are not covered by the Taft Hartley law. Our state definitely needs a law which will clarify the rights of employers and emplyees. HB 1202 does this.
Incidentally, Carl Eckhardt, I think, deserves some kind of community recognition for the amazing courage he has displayed in fighting racket picketing since the Teamster union affiliate tried to "muscle in" on his place three years ago. Men of lesser stuff would have caved in under the pressure.
The Daily Herald, May 21, 195
Labor union officials threatened wildcat strikes and work slowdowns if a bill were to be passed, convincing the Illinois House committee to reject the bill.
The Decauter Herald, May 27, 1959
House Group Rejects Curb On Picketing
Springfield May 26 (AP)
An Illinois House Committee tonight defeated a bill to outlaw picketing business places as part of union organizing campaigns.
The Industry and Labor Committee voted 22 to 18 in recommending that the bill "do not pass." Such action is tantamount to killing a bill, although rep. Harold Widmer (R-Freeport), chief sponsor of the proposal, said he will override the committee.
Strongly opposed by labor, the measure would permit employers to obtain injunctions against organizational picketing where no dispute existed between the employer and employees, and where a union did not represent a majority of employees.
R. G. Soderstron, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO, told the committee that picketing is a form of free speech and that enactment of Widemer's bill would "touch off a wave of wildcat sitdown and slowdown strikes. throughout the state."
Widmer replied that labor groups two years ago promised to "clean their own skirts" if no antipicketing legislation was passed.
"Nothing has been done about it," he said. "In fact, racket picketing has become more detrimental ."
Setback Dealt
On a test vote last week, the House dealt a setback to supporters of the bill by blocking an attempt to bypass the industry and labor committee and bring the bill to the floor.
The Illinois Sate Chamber of commerce reported 84 Illinois business, civic and agriculture groups endorsed the legislation.
At the committee session before the vote was taken, Joseph Meek, executive secretary of the Illnois Federation of Retail Merchants and John Tharp, labor relations manager for the State Chamber of Commerce, testified for the bill.
Tharp said 12 other states have enacted similar laws "yet you would think we were introducing some sort of legislative monster."
Abe Brussell, an AFL-CIO attorney, said the measure would strike at the collective bargaining agreement which is the "flesh and blood" of the unions.
Carl Eckhardt, operator of a service station in Morton Grove, said his business was picketed for more than three years because he refused to sign a contract with a Teamsters local.
Eckhardt said a judge last July issued a restraining order against the picketing but the case is pending on appeal.
Lester Ascher, another AFL-CIO attorney said a master-in chancery found that Eckhardt threatened his employees if they joined a union.
We believe organization picketing is justifiable in order to protect union wages and standard," Ascher said.
Carl Eckhardt must have been horribly frustrated by the lack of legislative action at the state level. To comprehend how much, we note that if he had been a big operator, he could have invoked the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board. where he would have been eligible for the relief he sought under federal law (the Taft Harley act).
Section 8(b) (7) makes it an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents "to picket or cause to be picketed or threaten to picket or cause to be picketed any employer where an object thereof is forcing or requiring an employer to recognize or bargain with a labor organization as the representative of his employees, or forcing or requiring the employees of an employer to accept or select such labor organization as their collective bargaining representative, unless such labor organization is currently certified as the representative of such employees", and unless certain specified conditions, discussed hereafter, are met.
Recognitional picketing would have been permitted if the union actually sought a certification election from Eckhardt's employees authorizing the union to bargain on their behalf.
Recognitional Picketing: Recognitional picketing is a common tactic unions use against an employer they seek to organize. This type of picketing can only occur for 30 days unless the union files a petition for election. Once filed, the picketing can continue until the petition is processed, which usually means until there is an election, until the election results are final, or until the union withdraws the election petition.
Under the federal law, the teamster pickets would have been cut off after 30 days for they did not seek and never intended to seek an election. With Carl's lawsuit still pending, three years into the picketing saga the wire services picked up Carl's story.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, June 15, 1958
Owner Firm Against Union
Service Station Fights Pickets For Three Years
By Francis X. Brennan
CHICAGO (UPI) -- "Three Years of Racket Picketing by Local 705. How Much Longer?"
Thus reads a sign greeting motorists entering a service station in suburban Morton Grove. The sign is the battle cry of Carl Eckhardt, a World War II veteran in his fight with an affiliate of the International Teamsters Union.
For three years and 22 days -- since May 24, 1955 -- Eckhardt has been picketed by Local 705 of the Truck, Oil Drivers & Filling Station Employees Union.
The pickets, at first several but now reduced to a lonely daily union worker who patrols mostly in the daylight hours, want Eckhardt to sign a union shop contract for his four employees. But Eckhardt, 50, insists he will stand "firm in the belief that this picketing is un-American."
"I told them if they represented the majority of the employees, I would be glad to accept a contract," Eckhardt said. But he maintains he doesn't have to sign with the union because his employees have signified they have no desire to be unionized.
As far as can be determined, Eckhardt said, the union has never approached his employees and personally sought their membership. The union, meanwhile, has refused to comment about its marathon picketing tour.
Feeling Grows
"I feel stronger about it now than I did three years ago when I returned from a fishing trip to find the pickets parading in front of my station," Eckhardt said.
"I feel these unions should not have that type of power. No church, fraternity or political party has the kind of power being used against me..
"For that reason, I'll stand my ground."
Eckhardt who served in the African and European campaign of the last World War, said his home front fight hasn't been easy."They had me out of gas for eight months," he said.
"That hurt. But since then my shop has picked up to where we're back to where we were.
"When you lose a year's business though, it's pretty hard to make up."
At the start, Eckhardt trucked his own gasoline to his station. Then he found and hired an independent tank trucker who now keeps his gasoline tanks full.
Eckhardt originally had a sign reading, "We Will Not Be Intimidated," at the entrance to his filling station. But he changed the sign last May 24, as sort of an anniversary celebration, to the current sign about "racket picketing." He also installed a flag pole to fly the American flag every day.
Eckhardt recently took another fishing trip to get away from the cares of his business and his pickets."The first thing I did when I returned was to look around," Eckhardt said, "But the pickets were still there and I had hoped they might have left."
"Maybe," he mused, "they will be gone some other time when I come home from fishing."
May 9, 1958 photo of Teamster picket at Carl Eckhardt's service station.
Bribery, intimidation and threats were coins of the union realm.
Chicago Tribune, August 1, 1958
Threats of Violence Mark Morton Grove Picketing Threats of violence have accompanied the three year effort of the teamsters union local 705 to organize the Morton Grove gas station owned by Carl Eckhardt.
An investigation of a threat to blow up a truck which ran gasoline thru the union picket line at Eckhardt's station was under way at the state's attorney's office Thursday when Circuit Judge John T. Dempsey ordered an injunction drawn to prevent picketing of the gas station.
Aids of State's Atty. Benjamin S. Adamowski questioned Arthur Hughes, 31, a truck driver who told THE TRIBUNE that Louis Peick, president of local 705, and three other union business agents threatened to blow up his truck in 1955, because he was supplying gasoline to Eckhardt.
Begin Picketing in 1955.
Pickets appeared at Eckhardt's station at 5944 Lincoln Avenue, Morton Grove, in May 1955 when he refused to sign a closed shop and dues checkoff contract with local 705. Eckhardt contended that his men, who were paid above union scale, did not want to join the union. Eckhardt, a former union bricklayer, said he was not against "legitimate" unions, but would resist the effort by local 705 to organize his employees."The union is attempting to enslave my workers," he said. "It is trying to shove a collection racket down my throat."
Gas Deliveries Blocked
When the pickets blocked gas deliveries by union teamsters, Eckhardt kept his station open for business by obtaining gas from Hughes and other suppliers.
Images of America, Morton Grove, Mary Busch and Tim Mayse-Lillig, p. 101
In 1955, Eckhardt asked the National Labor Relations board for relief, but the plea was rejected because Eckhardt was not in interstate commerce and his business was too small to come under the jurisdiction of the board. When a second appeal to the board was denied on the same ground, Eckhardt filed suit against the union for an injunction to restrain picketing.
Death Threats Made
During the hearings on the suit, a death threat was received by one of Eckhardt's employees, Irvin Kenner, 42, of 1530 Orleans St. Two men who said they were union agents threatened to "rub out" Kenner when he accepted $100 from them to testify against Eckhardt and then refused to go thru with the agreement.
Three years after Carl Eckhardt filed his lawsuit, a judge issued an injunction restraining further picketing.
Chicago Tribune, August 1, 1958
A RACKET OUTLAWED
Circuit Judge John T. Dempsey has held that "coercive organization picketing" [racket picketing] is unlawful in Illinois. He granted Carl Eckhardt's plea for an injunction restraining picketing at his gas station in Morton Grove.
Picketing intended to coerce an employer into placing his employees on a union's books without their consent is "in violation of public policy," Dempsey found. Appellate court decisions have repeatedly affirmed that workmen are entitled to select their bargaining agents themselves and in so doing have established public policy, according to Dempsey's opinion.
The Circuit court decision overrules the find of Master in Chancery Nathan M. Cohen, who had recommended dismissal on the ground that the Circuit court lacked jurisdiction.
Eckhardt, who has had pickets out in front for more than three years because he refused to sign the contract thrust upon him by the Truck Drivers, Oil Driver, Filling Station and Platform Workers union, said, "Judge Dempsey has done greater service for the people of Cook county than all the congressional committees that have been investigating unions and racket picketing in the last four years."
We agree that Judge Dempsey's decision is a signal contribution to the public interest. Abuses contrary to law and judicial precedent can be exposed in a hearing room, but it is in the courtrooms that effective action can and must be taken if labor practices are to change for the better. We commend change for the better. We commend Judge Dempsey for a well grounded and highly useful decision. The good effects of it will extend far beyond Carl Eckhardt's station in Morton Grove.
Then the state's attorney moved forward with criminal indictments.
Chicago Tribune, August 14, 1958
VOTE TO INDICT 3 UNION AIDS
Conspiracy Charged in Racket Quiz
Two true bills charging three Chicago teamster union officials with conspiracy were reported voted Wednesday by the Cook county grand jury which has been investigating labor racketeering.
The officials were said to be Jouis F. Peick, secretary-treasurer of Chicago teamster local 705, Bruno Filippini, a business agent for 705, and Patrick Landi, business agent for Maywood local 782.
Sources close to the jury said one bill charges conspiracy to injure business and to boycott, and the other charges conspiracy to interfere with employment by threat and conspiracy to attempt to obtain money to settle employment demands.
Eckhardt Case Involved
The charges grew out of picketing and alleged threats of violence that accompanied a three year effort by the teamsters to organize workers at the gas station owned by Carl Eckhardt at 5944 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove.
Conspiracy can be either a felony or a misdemeanor in Illinois, depending on the decision of the jury. As a misdemeanor it is punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 or one year in the Bridewell. As a felony, the punishment can be one to five years in the state prison or a fine of up to $2,000 or both. Bond for each defendant reported named in true bills would be $20,000 or $10, 000 for each bill.
Quiz Runs 3 Weeks
The jury conducted a three week investigation into the union's attempts to organize employees at Eckhardt's station against their will. Thirteen witnesses went before the jury Wednesday morning.
The jury had subpoenaed the records of local 705 in connection with the picketing of Eckhardt's station, and Peick was supposed to have produced them Wednesday. However, his attorney, Charles A. Bellows, informed Assistant State's Atty. Lawrence Ponateri that the records the union had did no pertain to the matter at hand.
Tells Union Demand
Chicago Tribune, August 14, 1958
Among the witness before the jury Wednesday was Louis Santi of Highland Park, who operates Lou's service station, 1901 Elston, Ave. He told prosecutors that when he took over the station one and a half years ago, he was told by union officials that he had to have three employees in the union. He said he joined to complete the quota after learning that two men who leased his repair service were union members.
Later, said Santi, representatives of local 705 threatened to cut off his gasoline supply when he refused to enroll members of his car wash crew in the union. Santi said they were day to day employees. John Kenner, a former insurnace agent, said he told the jury that the insurance for Arthur Hughes, owner of the Courtesy Oil company, Park Ridge, was discontinued after Hughes reported union threats to blow up his trucks if he continued to deliver gas to Eckhardt thru union picket lines.
Five Witnesses Heard
The jury also heard five witnesses in connection with its investigation of the relations of the Gasoline Retailers Association of Metropolitan Chicago and local 705, which gave a form contract to gasoline retailers making them members of the association and establishing the association as their bargaining agent.
Victor V. Postillion, association executive director, is scheduled to appear before the jury when it reconvenes next Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a petition was filed in Circuit court by attorneys for local 705 asking the dismissal of Eckhard's suit for an injunction to prevent picketing of his station. The petition said Judge John T. Dempsey erred when in granting a temporary injunction to Eckhardt on July 31, he held that the picketing was contrary to an appellate court ruling. The union claim that "recognitional picketing" had been recognized by the United States Supreme court and also by state Supreme courts.
The Chicago Tribune editorial page chimed in on Carl Eckhardt's behalf again. this time giving state's attorney Adamowski a back handed compliment for following up on the matter.
Chicago Tribune, August 16, 1958
JUSTICE BY SLOW FREIGHT
The indictment of three teamsters union officials for conspiring against gas station owners, reported on Wednesday, would have been cause for more rejoicing had it occured eight years ago.
The officials reported indicted are Louis Peick, secretary-treasurer of fuel oil drivers local 705, and two lesser officials. They were accused of trying to force the employees of Carl Eckhardt, who runs a filling station in Morton Grove, to join the union. When Mr. Eckhardt refused to make his employees do so against their will, the union picketed him.
Mr. Eckhardt's battle against the union began in May, 1955, but even then there was nothing new about the Union's bullying tactics. As far back as March, 1950, local 705 had made the same demands on two veterans who ran a gas station on the south side. When pickets showed up. State's Atty Roy announced that he would investigate -- but that was the last the public heard of it. The gas station owners soon gave in.
In the following year Mr. Peick got himself slugged and shot, and four of his colleagues were treated, respectively, in a hit-run murder, a shooting, a bombing and a one-way ride. It did not take a Sherlock Holmes to suspect that the local's operations were not all rose scented. Mr. Boyle ordered other investigations, one of which got to the grand jury, but all in vain.
When the Eckhardt case began three years ago, everything was known about it that is known today. But Judge Gurknecht, then state's attorney, let Mr. Eckhardt struggle thru the civil courts on his own. His successor, Mr. Adamowski, likewise preferred to see no evil -- at least until the McClellan committee threw the whole Chcicago area mess in his face. Even so, he accused the committee of not including all the details and took off on a vacation. We conclude reluctantly that it takes a congressional investigation to bring Cook county's state's attorneys to the point where they will make a serious effort to protect law abiding citizens.
According to four officials, when the union thugs, I mean officials, cornered Eckhardt's non-union oil truck supplier at midnight at a remote location, it was friendly union chit chat that they had in mind.
Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1958
GAS TRUCKER TELLS STORY OF UNION THREAT
Aided Eckhardt in Fight with Teamsters
BY SANDY SMITH
An oil company operator charged Tuesday that officials of the teamsters union had threatened to blow up a truck which ran gasoline thru a picket line at the Morton Grove filling station owned by Carl Eckhardt.
Arthur Hughes, 31, who operates three trucks under the name of Courtesy Oil company from his trailer home on Algonquin road, Park Ridge, said the threat to destroy the truck was made by Louis Peick, president of teamster union local 705, and three union business agents.
Carried a Shotgun
Hughes said that he carried a shotgun in his truck cab for a month to protect his life after the union officials cornered him at midnight in a gas station at Higgins road and River road in the fall of 1956.
Chicago Tribune, July 30, 1958
He said an officer on desk duty told him to stop carrying the gun.
2 Versions to Meeting
Hughes version is that Peick ordered him to stop hauling gas thru a picket line at Eckhardt's gas station and, when he refused, told him:
"It would be a shame if you woke up some morning and found your truck blown apart."
Peick conceded that he and the agents talked with Hughes at midnight in the River road gas station, but denied he made any threat to blow up Hughes' truck.
"I don't talk that way," said Peick, "I just told Hughes to stop running the picket line and join the union."
Relatives Heard Threat
Hughes trucked gasoline thru the picket line during Eckhardt's three year battle with local 705. The union picketed the gas station owned by Eckhart at 5944 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove, in an unsuccessful attempt to cut off gas deliveries.
Hughes said his brother, Carl, 30, of 9215 Western Ave., Des Plaines, and two other relatives heard Peick's threat. Peick was accompanied by three agents including Bruno Filipinni, who was in charge of the picket line at Eckhardt's gas station, Hughes said.
Union officials also engaged in friendly banter with one of Carl Eckhardt's employees.
Chicago Tribune, June 29, 1958
SPURNS 'UNION BRIBE,' GETS DEATH THREAT
Worker in Picketed Gas Station Talks
A death threat to an employee of Carl Eckhardt, the Morton Grove filling station operator who has fought for three years against signing a closed shop contract with Teamsters union local 705, was disclosed Monday. The threat was made to Irvin Kesner, 42, of 1530 Orleans St., after he accepted $100 from two men who said they were union agents to testify against Eckhardt, owner of the gas station at 5944 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove.
After he took the money in October 1956, Kenner refused to go thru with the agreement and reported the "bribe" to Eckhardt's attorney, William P. Treacy.
Called to Lawyers's Office
Later, Kenner said, he was called to the office of an attorney who represented local 705. Kenner said that two men in the office were angry because of his refusal to testify against his boss and berated him for reporting the alleged bribe to Treacy.
Kenn said the two men told him, "we could have you rubbed out for this."
Kenner, who worked as a greaseman for Eckhardt from May, 1955 until October, 1956, was a witness in Eckhard'ts suit against the union for an injunction restraining picketing and $12,000 damages.
In his statement to Eckhardt's attorney, Kenner said that two men who said they were from local 705 contacted him on Oct. 24, 1956.
Signs After Drinking
"They told me that Eckhardt was trying to get an injunction to lift the pickets from his gas station and that they didn't want that to happen," said Kenner.
The men, said Kenner, paid him $100 and promised him $150 more in return for his statement that Eckhardt had discharged him in October, 1956 because he was a member of Local 705. Kenner said he signed the statement after drinking with the men in a tavern at Sedgwick street and North avennue.
Kenner was not called as a witness by the union after he reported the alleged bribe to Treacy. Kenner added that he was never able to collect the additional $150 the union emissaries promised him for the statement.
Spurns Rubber Stamp Pact
Eckhardt appeared last week before a county grand jury which has been investigating labor rackets in gasoline stations and the restaurant industry. He said that local 705 was attempting to force him to sign what he called a "rubber stamp contract."
The union began picketing Eckhard't gas station on May 24, 1955, in an attempt to cut off gasoline deliveries by union teamsters. Eckhardt found means of obtaining deliveries himself and filed a Circuit court suit against the union which was referred to Master in Chancery Nathan M. Cohen.
A report by Cohen in which he recommended that the suit be dismissed on the ground the picketing of the gas station was lawful and peaceful, is awaiting a decision by Circuit Judge John T. Dempsey.
Chicago Tribune, August 9, 1958
The criminal investigation widened.
RACKET PICKET JURORS TO QUIZ 20 WITNESSES
Call Two Union Agents for Testimony
Subpoenas were issued Friday for about 20 witnesses to appear before the grand jury in its investigation of labor racketeering in the gasoline station field.
Assistant State's Atty. Lawrence Pusateri, who is handling the investigation, declined to disclose identify of the witnesses, but it was learned that they included two business agents of local 705 of the teamsters union.
Subpoena Two Pickets
Also subpoenaed, its was reported, were two teamsters union members who have picketed the gasoline station of Carl Eckhardt, 5044 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove. Eckhard'ts station was picketed three years until he finally won an injunction against the union in Circuit court last week.
Evidence piled up.
Chicago Tribune, August 11, 1958
GAS STATION UNION PROBE ACTION NEAR
The Cook county grand jury is expected to act this week in connection with its probe of labor racketeering in the gasoline station business, it was learned Sunday.
The general pattern of the probe has centered on such charges as conspiracy to boycott, conspiracy to extort money and promises.
The investigation has pinpointed the three year fight of Carl Eckhardt to have pickets of teamsters union local 705 removed from his service station at 5944 Lincoln Ave., Morton Grove.
Chicago Tribune, August 9, 1958
Meanwhile, Assistant State's Atty. Lawrence Pusateri, who is handling the investigation, disclosed that four more gasoline station operators visited his office last week to tell of threats of property damage and bodily harm from men representing themselves as local 705 members.
The business agents named in the subpoenas are John Iglewski and Andrew Liveris. The pickets are George Layer, 3046 S. Lowe Ave. who already has received the subpoena, and John Treccia, 3520 S. Central Ave., Cicero who was reported out of town.
Among the others scheduled to appear are gasoline station owners in Morton Grove and some in Glenview. Their testimony is reportedly prepartory for a return appearance before the grand jury on Aug. 29 by Victor V. Postillion, executive director of the Gasoline Retailers Association of Metropolitan Chicago.
Row With Eckhardt
The Morton Grove station operators will be asked to explain what caused them to change their minds suddenly after they held a meeting and agree to oppose unionization of their stations. A few days later, all except Eckhardt submitted to union demands.
The Glenview operators, it was reported, will be queried about a meeting they held a few days after the Morton Grove operators agree to unionization. Eckhardt and Postillion attended this meeting and reportedly almost came to blows because Postillion urged the operators to join the union.
Meanwhile, the non-union trucker who supplied Carl Eckhardt with gasoline testified in court that his life was threatened by union officials.
Chicago Tribune, July 2, 1959
THREATS TOLD AT TRIAL OF 6 TEAMSETER AIDS
A fuel oil trucker told Wednesday in Criminal court how he was harassed and threatened by teamster union officials when he helped a strike bound filling station operator. He delivered oil and gasoline to the station.
Arthur W. Hughes of Alogonquin road, Park Ridge, part owner of the Courtesy Oil Service company, testified before Judge Joseph A. Pope that he was warned that "it would be a shame if you woke up in the morning to find your truck blown apart."
Hughes testified in the third day of the trial of six officials and members of two teamster unions charged with conspiracy to boycott and intimidate employees and compel payment of money to settle a labor dispute.
Story of Truck
In July, 1955, Hughes testified, Carl Eckhardt, operator of the filling station at 5944 Lincoln Ave, Morton Grove, bought one of this trucks on condition he would resell it to him in the fall.
Chicago Tribune, July 2, 1959
Later in the year he said, Bruno Filippini, a business agent of local 705 of the Truck Oil Drivers, Filling Station Employees, and another man were found on top of the truck in a gas station at Higgins and River road in Des Plaines.
He said Filippini accused him of hauling gasoline for Ekcardt's station which the teamster had been picketing. During the talk with Filippini, Hughes said, Louis F. Pieck, secretary treasurer of local 705, and another man walked up and said the he knew where Hughes was getting his oil and gasoline they would shut off his supplies.
Followed by Pickets
Hughes also told of being followed by pickets from the Eckhardt station. Eckhardt has testified the teamsters tried to put him out of business when he refused to force his employees into the union without their consent.
The defendants, including Filippini and Pieck, are Patrick Landi, business agent of local 782, and Ed Lundquist, Jerry Crawley, and John Iglewski, business agents of local 705.
Judge Pope dropped the boom on Adamowski and Eckhardt, directing a verdict against the prosecution, ensuring the case would not even go to a jury.
Chicago Tribune, July 4, 1959
JUDGE LASHED BY ADAMOWSKI IN PICKET CASE
6 Teamsters Freed in Conspiracy
State's Atty. Benjamin S. Adamowski lashed out Friday at Judge Joseph A. Pope of Criminal court, who freed six aids of the teamsters union of conspiracy charges in the picketing of a Morton Grove filling station, whose owner spurned union membership, despite being picketed for three years.
"I think the judge's ruling was weak kneed," said Adamowski, referring to Judge Pope's action in upholding a not guilty motion Thursday."I would be willing to let any federal judge take the transcript and read it, and I'm positive that they would agree the state had made a prima facie case. The excuse about the statute of limitations is merely a subterfuge.
Chicago Tribune, July 4, 1959
Judge Explains Ruling
Judge Pope told reporters Thursday that "there was no conspiracy proved," and "there were only individual acts, and these apply to individuals." He said the picketing was not illegal and it was the only act shown to have occured within the statute of limitations.
The case grew out of picketing of Carl Eckhardt's gas station at 5944 Lincoln Ave., in the suburb, after Eckhardt refused to sign a contract with the teamsters union in 1955.
During the four days of the hearings, prosecution witnesses testified about threats and intimidations by union officials if they made deliveries of gasoline to Eckhardt's station. The testimony, however, referred to events outside the statute of limitations.
Judge Attacked Before
Adamowski attacked Judge Pope on Monday for sentencing Harry V. Grainek, 53, former insurance executive to a 1 to 2 year prison term for embezzlment of $1,700,000.
Previously the state's attorney attacked the Criminal courts in cases growing out of the county assessor's office and Municipal court bail bond scandals. The Chicago Bar association has slated an investigation on Adamowski's comments against the judiciary.
The Chicago Tribune lashed out at Judge Pope's decision.
Chicago Tribune, July 6, 1959
RACKETING GETS A PASS
A Criminal court judge Thursday handed down a directed verdict freeing six teamster union agents who had waged a three year racket picketing campaign against Carl Eckhardt, a Morton Grove filling station operator, in a futile attempt to force Eckhardt's three employees into the union against their will. During the picketing, fuel trucks were prevented from making deliveries, one trucker was warned that he might wake up some morning and find his gas trucks blown up, and Eckhardt managed to stay in business only by sneaking deliveries in at night.
Judge Joseph A. Pope, who found the men not guilty of conspiracy, is the same judge who a few days earlier let an embezzler of 1.7 million dollars off with a sentence of one to two years. In the teamster case, he said that "only individual acts" had been proved by the testimony -- not a conspiracy. We don't know how a conspiracy could have been more apparent when all those associated in the harassment of Eckhardt were members of the teamsters union.
When Circuit Judge John T. Dempsey granted an injunction against picketing at Eckhardt's station last fall, he said that picketing for illegal purposes, no matter how peaceful, is contrary to public policy and is, therefore, unlawful. Judge Pope's excessive leniency and vastly different interpretion of the law would seem to sanction the repulsive practice of blackmail picketing. This scandalous decision reemphasizes the need for a law specifically direct against this social and economic cancer.
I will get a little (maybe a lot) inside baseball here for a moment. Pope's finding that as a matter of law the conspiracy allegation would not go to the jury was not a finding on the criminality of the underlying acts (extortion, and death and property threats). The statue of limitations on most of these early acts, individually, had expired when Adamowski's Democratic predecessor was in office or not long after. But if a conspiracy is proven, a prosecution including the individual acts as elements of the conspiracy would move forward since the statue of limitations for a conspiracy does not begin to run until the final act in furtherance of the conspiracy. The Democrats had run out the clock. Ben Adamowski was once a Democrat and had been a close friend and associate of Richard J. Daley, mayor.
But Adamowski wasn't the go-along type. While Daley took the conventional route, building a base of power within the machine, Adamowski cultivated the party's liberal or reform wing. In 1955 he ran against Daley in the mayoral primary and lost. He then tried to find out whether the Democratic slate-making committee would support him in a run for state's attorney in the 1956 election. "It was a lost cause," write Cohen and Taylor. "After his harsh words about the machine in the last election, there was no chance Daley would entrust him with such a sensitive post, which carried with it the power to investigate and prosecute Chicago politicians."
So Adamowski did the unthinkable. He switched parties and ran for state's attorney as a Republican. Daley threw the weight of the machine against him, letting payroll precinct workers and union allies know that defeating Adamowski was of the highest importance.
To Daley's surprise, Adamowski rode President Dwight Eisenhower's coattails to victory. Suddenly the chief law enforcement officer of Cook County was an enemy of the machine. "Ben came out of the machine, so he knew where the bodies were buried," says Newey. "He wasn't going to look the other way, he wasn't going to play the game. We were going after the bodies."
The Daley machine would eject Adamowski from office in 1960 by the same falsified late night and early morning vote counts that were calibrated to elect John F. Kennedy as the 35th President of the United States. In what would be its final editorial comment on the matter, the Tribune lauded Carl Eckhardt's courage.
Chicago Tribune, July 11, 1959
COURAGE PAYS OFF
Carl Eckhardt, the Morton Grove garage owner who withstood three years of harassment by the teamsters union in its attempt to sign up his employees against their will, is still in business. There have been no pickets, he says since they were withdrawn last August in accordance with an injunction issued by Circuit Judge John T. Dempsey.
It takes courage to stand up against the threats and intimidating tactics employ by disreputable union officials, especially in view of what has happened to many of these who have done so. Mr. Eckhardt's suppliers were threatened with bombings, attempts were made to scare away his customers, and he had to sneak deliveries in at night. In most cases, small businessmen have capitulated long before they suffered as much as Mr. Eckhardt.
His courage has paid off. His customers have stuck by him and the union has apparently abandoned its vicious campaign -- even though those who took part in it were freed by Judge Joseph Pope, who couldn't find any evidence of a conspiracy.
Mr. Eckhardt's example should encourage resistance by others who find themselves the victims of similar tactics. He has emerged from his years of trial with honor.
In 1964, after Carl Eckhardt had sold his filling station an appellate court overturned the 1958 decision that granted Carl an injunction against the picketing.
Chicago Tribune, March 14, 1964
LEGAL BATTLE OVER PICKETS WON BY UNION
Judge Rules Court Cannot Restrain
BY GEORGE BLISS
Judge Thomas E. Klucinnski of the Illinois Appellate court ruled yesterday that Illinois courts have no jurisdiction in restraining unions from organizational picketing in a case termed one of the longest and most bitterly fought in labor history.
The decision of Klucinski invovled the 9-year fight between Carl Eckhardt who had operated a Morton Grove gas station, and the teamsters, local 705, which had picketed the station form 1955 to 1998.
Await Next Move
I. Harvey Levinson, attorney for the teamsters, said the decision is a major victory for labor in Illinois. He said, however, that the teamsters have not decided whether they will again picket gas stations that refuse to sign union contracts.
Eckhardt, who sold the gas station at 5944 Lincoln Ave. in 1959 and is now operating an automobile trim shop next door at 5934 Lincoln Ave., said he will talk to his attorneys before deciding on any appeal action.
In 1959 Judge John T. Dempsey in Circuit court, who is now sitting in the appellate court, granted Eckhardt's pleas for an injunction restraining picketing at the gas station which continued to operate despite union attempts to cut off gasoline deliveries.
Sought Damages
Chicago Tribune, March 14, 1964
Eckhardt then filed a petition with the court asking for damages on the grounds that the gross sales at the station had diminished since the picketing began and other expenses incurred in the fight.
Levinson filed a petition to dismiss the injunction on the grounds the court had no jurisdiction under the laws of Illinois and preempted the authority of the national labor relations act.
The case was transferred to Judge Klucinski when Judge Dempsey was named to the higher court and later Judge Kluczinski was also named to the appeal court.
Judge Kluczinski said that Eckhard was not entitled to damages or the injunction because Illinois court have no jurisdiction to restrain picketing.
In 1959 six aids of the union were found not guilt on conspiracy charges involving the fight between Eckhardt and the union.
With Carl Eckhardt out of the service station business the labor union dispute faded away into the rear view mirror.
Description: LIN-MAR MOTORS, INC. was founded by Wally Lundin in 1958. The full service auto repair and 24 hour towing business was located at the corner of Lincoln and Marmora in Morton Grove.
Wally's son, Ron, purchased the business in 1992 and the following year expanded the business with the acquisition of Eckhart Auto Glass & Upholstery. The business continued to grow and in 2003 moved into its new, larger location at 7860 N. Lehigh Avenue in Morton Grove.
Ron has continued to add state of the art auto body repair equipment, necessary to keep pace with changing auto repair technologies. Technicians are certified by ASE and I-CAR. Tow drivers are trained and certified by WreckMaster, a leading towing service industry training consultant.
Wally's son, Ron, purchased the business in 1992 and the following year expanded the business with the acquisition of Eckhart Auto Glass & Upholstery. The business continued to grow and in 2003 moved into its new, larger location at 7860 N. Lehigh Avenue in Morton Grove.
Ron has continued to add state of the art auto body repair equipment, necessary to keep pace with changing auto repair technologies. Technicians are certified by ASE and I-CAR. Tow drivers are trained and certified by WreckMaster, a leading towing service industry training consultant.
Ron has continued to add state of the art auto body repair equipment, necessary to keep pace with changing auto repair technologies. Technicians are certified by ASE and I-CAR. Tow drivers are trained and certified by WreckMaster, a leading towing service industry training consultant.
Carl Eckhardt passed away on May 31, 1994. If you have a car wreck today and your vehicle is towed to Lin Mar Motors for repair, you will be driving around later with a bit of Carl Eckhartdt's legacy in your car. I would like to finish with a shout out to Fred Eckhardt, son of Edward and nephew of Carl. I caddied with Freddy at Glen View Club. Here is to you Fred and your family and friends!
There are dozens of reports on Carl's decade long standoff with the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters. The brotherhood was an irresistible force. It encountered a man who was an immovable object.
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