Milwaukee, June 11: Striking Palermo’s Workers Press Conference, 12 Noon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 9, 2012

CONTACT: JOE SHANSKY (414) 218-3331 / http://vdlf.org/

Palermo’s Pizza Workers Cautiously Cheer as Termination Date Passes

One week after walkout, picketing and efforts to support workers’ union spread

MILWAUKEE, WI – Palermo’s Pizza employees, engaged in aweek-long strike in protest of the company’s unlawful interference with their efforts to form a union, expressed cautious optimism as Friday passed without further unlawful terminations.

Soon after union organizing efforts began, the frozen pizza company began its anti-union campaign, threatening workers with termination and immigration audits.  Management issued letters to a group of employees indicating they must re-verify their immigration status or be terminated by today.  ICE then sent a letter indicating there was a stay on any actions.

Workers are demanding that Palermo’s immediately reinstate striking workers who were fired through the company’s hiring of replacement workers and generating “resignation” letters on behalf of the strikers.  Workers are also demanding that the company immediately stop hiring replacement workers.

“We really see this as a small victory that’s part of the much larger struggle to form a union and secure safe working conditions and dignity on the job,” said Jose Torres, a striking worker.

“By standing together in a strong show of solidarity in the picket line and online, and by highlighting the pattern of retaliation and unsafe conditions workers have been subjected to at the workplace, we hope we can end Palermo’s unlawful intimidation campaign and ultimately form a union,” added Roberto Silva, another Palermo’s employee on strike.

Less than 24 hours old, an online petition that is circulating has already garnered nearly 1,000 signatures of Wisconsinites and others who are calling on Palermo’s to stop intimidating and firing workers forming a union.  Local activists are pledging to stop purchasing their products until workers’ rights are protected.  Riverwest Co-op in Milwaukee has issed a statement declaring its immediate boycott of Palermo’s frozen pizzas.  A strike fund has also been started to help the workers recoup lost income during the labor dispute.

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