Gallup (poll) sues over sign

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100612/MONEY/706129838

By Joe Ruff

A large sign reading “Labor Dispute” and “Shame on Gallup Organization” was first hoisted by members of a carpenters union near the entrance of Gallup's riverfront campus nearly a year ago, and the company has had enough.

The banner is defamatory and hurts the polling and consulting firm's image with clients, employees and people driving to and from Eppley Airfield, Gallup says in a lawsuit filed in Douglas County District Court.

Gallup asks the court to order an end to the protest by the Carpenters District Council of Kansas City & Vicinity and to award damages.

An attorney for the union, Martin Walter, said the union is exercising its right to free speech and will not remove the banner.

Three union members manned the portable sign Thursday morning. They waved to passing cars and handed flyers to people walking by.

“Some of it is about the union; some of it is about the wages,” Jesus Orea, a 32-year-old Omaha carpenter, said of the protest.

FULL story and photo at link.

A federal district court has already ruled in favor of the banners in a case out of California.