[nfbmi-talk] subminimum wage shop to be picketed

[joe harcz Comcast]

Union of Peckham employees plans informational picket

 

Published: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7:03 PM     Updated: Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7:03 PM

Angela Wittrock | awittroc at mlive.com

By

Angela Wittrock | awittroc at mlive.com

Peckham Inc.jpgPeckham, Inc. websitePeckham, Inc. headquarters in Lansing.

 

LANSING, MI – Employees of a Lansing-based company will hold an "informational picket" Friday, organizers said in a media release.

 

Workers at Peckham, Inc., a non-profit company providing job training and employment for disabled persons,

are attempting to organize a labor union.

The informational strike is part of that effort.

 

United Peckham, an independent labor union formed by employees of Peckham, Inc., will hold the picket Friday, May 11 at 3 p.m. in front of Peckham Vocational

Industries.

 

Organizers say they plan to "protest anti-union activities by this non-profit employer."

 

Union advocates accuse Peckham of intimidating employees who seek to join, including issuing layoff notices to key organizers and spreading misinformation.

 

The union wants to win better pay for the company's 1100 employees, many of whom make less than minimum wage.

 

Advocates of the effort

accuse the company

of paying workers sub-minimum wage rates while reaping in massive profits – nearly $15 million in Fiscal Year 2010, according to Internal Revenue Service

documents.

 

The picket will be centered on the CATA bus shelter on Capitol City Blvd.

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