[nfbmi-talk] union pickets peckham now src member

[joe harcz Comcast]

Union pickets Peckham over unfair labor practices, wages 10:13 AM, Nov 13, 2012 | . LANSING - Standing outside in freezing temperatures, union organizers

tried this morning to keep the heat on Peckham Vocational Industries for what it says are unfair labor practices. Two members of United Peckham, an independent

union formed in March, waved signs in an informational picket near the entrance of the non-profit business at Grand River Avenue and Capital City Boulevard

as employees were going to work this morning. Mike Kolhoff, a union organizer who was waving a picket sign that read "Peckham: Minimum Wage Sweat Shop,"

said the union is upset over the company paying sub-minimum wages to 200 of its employees and what he claims are company efforts to intimidate people from

joining the union. He said he believes the company is violating its recent settlement agreement with the National Labor Relations Board by posting only

one copy of the agreement inside of the company, near the employee punch clock. Kolhoff contends the company was required to post multiple copies of the

notice, which notifies employees that the company will not monitor union activities. It's demeaning to be treated as second-class citizens," Kolhoff said

of the company's 1,000 employees. Company officials could not be reached for comment this morning. Peckham provides job training for people with disabilities

who work in manufacturing, warehousing, office cleaning, information technology and other fields. The company is a major supplier of garments for the U.S.

Army and other branches of the military. About 200 clients have signed union pledge cards since the organizing drive began in March, Kolhoff said. Kolhoff,

who works as a financial aid officer at Lansing Community College, said the union has no wish to collectively bargain for employees or collect dues, but

merely wants to represent them against unfair labor practices. In May, Kolhoff said he believed the company was engaging in "retaliatory layoffs" against

unionized employees, but today he conceded that layoffs likely were not retaliatory because they included both union and non-union members. The NLRB approved

the settlement agreement involving Peckham last month after the union complained about company harassment toward union members. Under federal labor law,

non-profit companies offering vocational rehabilitation employment to disabled persons are allowed to pay sub-minimum wage.