| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 2002 |
|
|
Confrontation at Shaw's UFCW International President Doug Dority and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney were arrested yesterday while trying to communicate with Shaw's employees about their right to representation and their rights to the terms under their union contract. Sweeney and Dority were visiting workers at a Shaw's store in the Worcester area who have been denied union representation by their company. Despite the fact that the workers' union, UFCW, is the legal representative of the workers, the company has repeatedly denied workers access to their union representatives. "The labor movement and its national leaders are ready to confront the foreign owners of Shaw's to protect the American right to have a voice at work. And we're ready to go to jail for the rights of workers. The right to a voice at work is the 21st century civil rights movement," said Doug Dority, UFCW International President. Dority and Sweeney were arrested at a Worcester, Massachusetts Shaw's Supermarket by local police ? who paused to let the leaders address the cheering crowds before taking them to jail. Both leaders appeared in court that afternoon in handcuffs and leg shackles and pleaded not guilty before a judge. They were released on personal recognizance. In February, Shaw's management unilaterally declared that workers had no right to union representation and shredded its contract with union workers in 11 Worcester- area Shaw's stores. "The UFCW is committed to representing Shaw's workers. We will take whatever action necessary to protect their workplace rights," said Dority. The UFCW represents more than 1600 Shaws employees at 11 stores in Central Massachusett and has made a commitment to stand by workers and restore their full rights and benefits of the union contract. UFCW Local 1445 has filed a class action grievance against Shaw's demanding that all vacation and other time off be returned to workers. -30- For photos from the event or to read more about the campaign, log onto: |
|
 |
 |
