Left Leanings
13th May 2012, 11:01
Some disabled workers, who work for Peckham Vocational Industries, a not-for-profit company in Michigan, to get disabled people into work, have formed a union to fight sweatshop conditions:
Disabled workers in Michigan form a trade union to fightback against poor wages and sweatshop conditions. The bosses respond with a variety of union busting tactics.
Workers at Peckham Vocational Industries (http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120512/BUSINESS/305120028/Picketers-protest-alleged-anti-union-action-Peckham?&gcheck=1) in Michigan, a not for profit company that provides job training and employment for disabled workers are in the process of forming a trade union. Workers have accused the bosses of paying sub-minimum wages to their 1100 employees whilst at the same time making huge profits. So far, around 200 workers have signed up the new trade union (http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2012/05/lansing-based_peckham_inc_targ.html).
As soon as bosses became aware of the workers attempting to unionise (http://lansingworkerscenter.wordpress.com/) they have engaged in open ‘union busting’ tactics, such as forcing employees to watch ant-union videos before they can receive pay check, and spreading misinformation about the union.
A spokesman has reported that:
Quote:
“Another one of our key organizers has been laid-off and another given a one-week suspension for no reason," a post on a Facebook page of United Peckham Employee Group, reads. "We have also confirmed that Peckham is hiring a lot of new people, even as they are laying off current workers. This is clear-cut union busting, and we aren't going to stand for it."
A sacked worker believes that:
Quote:
“All of this started when we started getting a union in here. Workers are concerned about wages, working conditions, and disrespectful treatment by the company. They are using people on a daily basis and it just has to end. It’s a glorified modern-day sweatshop”
Bosses have predictably claimed that the lay-offs are nothing to do with trade union activities, but rather it is to do with orders being currently lower than expected.
Solidarity with the Peckham Vocational workers! :) :star:
Disabled workers in Michigan form a trade union to fightback against poor wages and sweatshop conditions. The bosses respond with a variety of union busting tactics.
Workers at Peckham Vocational Industries (http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120512/BUSINESS/305120028/Picketers-protest-alleged-anti-union-action-Peckham?&gcheck=1) in Michigan, a not for profit company that provides job training and employment for disabled workers are in the process of forming a trade union. Workers have accused the bosses of paying sub-minimum wages to their 1100 employees whilst at the same time making huge profits. So far, around 200 workers have signed up the new trade union (http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2012/05/lansing-based_peckham_inc_targ.html).
As soon as bosses became aware of the workers attempting to unionise (http://lansingworkerscenter.wordpress.com/) they have engaged in open ‘union busting’ tactics, such as forcing employees to watch ant-union videos before they can receive pay check, and spreading misinformation about the union.
A spokesman has reported that:
Quote:
“Another one of our key organizers has been laid-off and another given a one-week suspension for no reason," a post on a Facebook page of United Peckham Employee Group, reads. "We have also confirmed that Peckham is hiring a lot of new people, even as they are laying off current workers. This is clear-cut union busting, and we aren't going to stand for it."
A sacked worker believes that:
Quote:
“All of this started when we started getting a union in here. Workers are concerned about wages, working conditions, and disrespectful treatment by the company. They are using people on a daily basis and it just has to end. It’s a glorified modern-day sweatshop”
Bosses have predictably claimed that the lay-offs are nothing to do with trade union activities, but rather it is to do with orders being currently lower than expected.
Solidarity with the Peckham Vocational workers! :) :star: