Monday, Feb. 11 2008
PR Newswire [1] Comtex
Fox Business [2]
After years of enduring harsh working conditions for low pay, Cintas employees in Montreal have become the first in the company's history to successfully form a union. Throughout North America, laundry giant Cintas has fiercely fought workers' ongoing efforts to organize for better jobs. Employees' victory in Montreal, aided by the most balanced labor laws on the continent, illustrates the desire of Cintas workers to form a union, and the importance of having a fair process.
"Our efforts were rewarded: we now have our union," says Gabriel Aszalos, a six-year washroom employee. "Even with the long delay, our strong labor laws ensured that our rights were respected. This is a historical victory for us, and we hope it inspires our coworkers throughout the United States and Canada to stand together for safer jobs and a living wage."
The Quebec Labor Board certified Montreal workers' petition to be represented by the Quebec Council of UNITE HERE late last week. The majority of workers at Cintas's suburban Montreal laundry first petitioned the Board in December 2006.
"For over a year, Cintas delayed workers from having a voice on the job, but we didn't give up," said Lina Aristeo, Director of UNITE HERE's Quebec Council. "Now that the Labor Board has decided in favor of workers' right to form union, we hope that Cintas will follow the law and negotiate in good faith with employees."
In contrast to employees in Quebec, U.S. workers have had anything but a fair chance. Cintas has unleashed a vicious campaign of coercion against workers wanting a union. Last week, Cintas settled charges with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB [2]) alleging the company illegally fired a California worker and that management threatened to "kick driver-employees with steel toed boots" to show it wasn't afraid of workers' organizing efforts. The company has to pay the fired worker nearly $30,000 in back wages and post a notice in its Vista, California, laundry describing workers legal right to organize.
Over the past three years, Cintas has settled more than 70 charges alleging illegal interference with employees' right to organize with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB [2]). An NLRB Administrative Law Judge called the company's violations in a North Carolina plant "intensive" and "not isolated or minor." The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that Cintas suppressed workers' right to speak freely on the job in every U.S. facility.
To ensure that U.S. workers can freely and democratically form a union, UNITE HERE along with a broad coalition of religious, political and community leaders are backing the Employee Free Choice Act. The bipartisan act would strengthen protections for workers' freedom to form a union. It also would provide for mediation and arbitration of first-contract disputes and authorize stronger penalties for violation of the law when workers seek to organize. Both candidates seeking the Democratic Presidential nomination have pledged to sign the Act into law if elected.
Quebec workers form unions through card check agreements. When a majority of employees sign union authorization cards, the Quebec Labor Board holds a hearing to certify the cards. After certification, the government arbitrates contract negotiations if they reach an impasse.
Since 2003, Cintas workers throughout North America have been standing with UNITE HERE and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in the Uniform Justice campaign. Workers hope to gain respect on the job, living wages, affordable healthcare and safer jobs. Because Cintas has acquired companies with unionized facilities, the two unions represent 400 Cintas workers.
SOURCE UNITE HERE
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