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Fred Norman said the Castlewood workers need the City's support and the Council's assistance. He said they are not chattel nor indentured servants; they are human beings who deserve a living wage and the opportunity to support themselves and their families. He has attended their protest gatherings and had opportunity to speak with many, one of whom is an 82- year -old woman and 26 -year employee of Castlewood who is now locked out of her job and deprived of an income and health care benefits. He cited the City's past aid efforts both national and global and asked that the City now help those in its local area by giving them the opportunity to resume contract negotiations. Patricia Belding said she is a member of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton (CCOP) and Citizens for a Caring Community. She said her heart is moved by the plight of these workers. She was instrumental in requesting that her church issue a letter to Castlewood management to ask that both parties return to the negotiating table but that the letter has received no response. Another letter was issued following an inter -faith meeting, again with no response. She asked the Council to intervene, either in the manner proposed by staff or by directly mediating this situation, which has resulted in tremendous conflict and injustice. Brenda Wood, American Federation of State, City, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 57 and AFSCME Local 955, said she was sent by the Executive Board to request the Council's support for these workers. She said they would ultimately like the Council to encourage both parties to come back together to reach some sort of resolution, with both sides being treated respectfully and a fair agreement negotiated for the workers. Carlos Hernandez spoke through an interpreter, stating that he and his coworkers are here tonight because of the economic and health impacts created by this lockout. He said locked out workers have been marching in front of Castlewood not because they are being paid, but because they are fighting for their families and their future. Gustavo Nystrom said he is with CCOP and also led Pleasanton's 2006 Jewish Catholic dialogue. This issue pertains to fair labor, something of great importance to both faiths and of such importance to Catholics that it was addressed in both the first and second encyclicals ever written by the church. He and the City's other religious leaders met recently to develop Breaking Bread for Justice, a program involving both Castlewood management and the union. A representative contacted the Club Manager, who declined to participate, stating that the matter is a private affair. He said he is well aware of the impacts this recession has had on the Club, said 100 members have been lost, and that cutbacks are certainly in order, but that the cost of this contract represents 33% of the average employee's take home pay. He would agree that this is a private matter if the issue were over $12 versus $12.25 per hour, but 33% is significant enough to warrant intervention. Diane Ravnik said she is a member of CCOP and the Social Justice Committee, the latter of which initiated the correspondence requesting that Club management end the lockout, and that she fully supports the moderate resolution proposed by staff. She acknowledged Vice -Mayor Thorne's concerns but said that without income or health benefits, workers become dependent upon the resources provided by the taxpayers; that makes it a matter of concern for the entire community. She commended Councilmember Sullivan on his letter published in the Pleasanton Weekly and concurred that the actions of Club management are draconian. She provided the Council with a letter in support of the resolution from Bob Lane of the Trinity Lutheran Church and urged the Council to support workers by adopting the resolution. Mayor Hosterman closed the hearing to public comments. City Council Minutes Page 6 of 22 April 6, 2010