Statewide Boycott Called By Palermo’s Pizza Workers At Picket Line On Strike For Union Rights

http://hispanicnewsnetwork.wordpress.com/2012/06/05/statewide-boycott-called-by-palermos-pizza-workers-at-picket-line-on-strike-for-union-rights/

Posted on June 5, 2012

Employees claim that they are forced to prepare and make pizza while they are sick at the company or they’ll be fired after three to four days of being absent for being ill.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 5, 2012

Milwaukee – On Tuesday, about 130 Palermo’s Pizza workers who went on strike since Wednesday are calling for a statewide boycott of Palermo’s products. The official call for a boycott will be announced on Wednesday, according to workers at the picket line.

Temperary workers were hired to replace the striking employees from multiple shifts. Palermo’s executives haven’t confirmed, if they have been terminated for demanding fair working conditions, sick leave, higher wages, benefits and the right to form a credited union at the plant.

Workers on strike say, ill employees are forced to work and make pizza products while being sick because they’re not allowed to take extended sick leave or they’ll face termination. Pizza products are at risk of contamination, if ill employees work closely with preparing food at the plant.

About 80% of the employees decided to organize and signed a petition to form a union as allowed under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. The act requires companies to recognize a union, if 30% of employees petition for a company to recognize their union. The company refused to recognize their efforts to organize and threaten to terminate any employee that supported a union or any demand to seek extra days needed to get well when ill to prevent any health risks to customers buying products. The employees filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.

FULL story at link.