SEIU Local 26 represents over 35 janitors who work for Aramark and clean the General Mills corporate complex in Golden Valley, Minnesota. The union recently settled a grievance in a member's favor, winning her a large cash settlement. In retaliation, Aramark unnecessarily and unjustly fired nearly 20 workers.
You can find out more by clicking here.
From where I sit, these recent firings by Aramark look an awful lot like intimidation. In fact, the firings come close to union busting.
It seems to me that the people who clean the toilets at General Mills deserve at least the same amount of respect as General Mills offers to its suppliers, business partners and customers. And as a resident of Minnesota, I suspect that if this matter is brought to General Mills' attention, they will do the right thing.
This sort of intimidation does not reflect the values of our state and hopefully it will find no safe harbor here. If one of us loses a court case, we don't go out and beat up our neighbors because we didn't like the verdict - and this is what Aramark's behavior amounts to.
There's more ...
If you still have a weekend to enjoy - a 40 hour work week - a paid vacation - sick time to lean on when sick - an employer sponsored retirement plan of some sort - and if you value social security
all benefits that became the "norm" in large part due to the sacrifices of the tough, hardworking, organized men and women who built this country we love and keep it clean and in working order,
you can show your support by visiting the link above and using the "letter writing" tool to make your voice heard. Your fax will be sent to both Aramark and General Mills.
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I don't get to visit this fine blog as much as I'd like - but each time I come, I learn something valuable either from a blogger or in the comments section or both.
If I've misued the blog with this sort of "action alert", I apologize and I look forward to receiving your guidance concerning any future diaries I might write. :)