New Haven Independent

Citing OSHA violations, low wages and a recent NLRB finding that the company had made “improper statements” to employees about a union organizing drive, the Board of Aldermen took a public stance Monday night condemning the company through a resolution on the aldermanic floor.

The resolution comes as part of a publicity campaign that began in October, when the UNITE HERE union alerted lawmakers to conditions inside the plant. Labor activists demostrated outside the plant. Yale University students protested “sweatshop” conditions, prompting the Yale Golf Course, to go elsewhere for its linen services this spring, according to Yale’s Mike Morand. Yale had used the company for less than $4,000 in services the previous year, he said. (Click here and here for background on the company and workers’ accounts of conditions inside the Derby Avenue plant.)

“Because New England Linen has shown itself to be an unwilling partner whose actions have undermined the efforts of improving the quality of life of the community, the New Haven Board of Aldermen condemns New England Linen’s actions in the strongest possible terms,” reads the resolution, which passed with 26 yeas and one abstention.

The resolution came three months after a pending National Labor Relations Board complaint was settled between New England Linen the UNITE HERE union. Assessing complaints of management retaliation to a union organizing drive, the NLRB concluded “that the employer had made statements beyond the bonds of the law,” according to John Cotter, assistant to the regional director at the Hartford NLRB. A settlement was made requiring the company to post notices of employees’ rights not to be threatened, coerced or subject to surveillance as a union organizing drive proceeds.

Notices displaying workers’ rights were posted, but “workers continue to report captive meetings,” asserts the aldermanic resolution. No workers were present at the aldermanic meeting to confirm that statement.

“There is a lot of fear,” said UNITE HERE organizer Lynne Turner (pictured at left), who had invited local workers to attend the meeting, but was unable to get them to come. The lack of workers willing to speak up was also apparent at this picket line outside the plant in November.

“Don’t Give Up”

In their absence, several aldermen stood up in support of the laundry workers, who work in sweltering rooms for as little as $8 per hour.

“We as leaders need to be accountable for those who serve us day by day,” said Westville Alderman Sergio Rodriguez.

“I support you. Don’t give up. Nothing comes easy in this world,” added Hill Alderman Jorge Perez.

“You need a union to help you get the best pay and the best benefits possible,” said Hill Alderwoman Dolores Colon.

One alderman, Beaver Hill’s Moti Sandman, abstained from the vote. He said he didn’t have enough info to make a judgment and was not comfortable with the “inflammatory language” on the resolution, which, before a last-minute amendment, called the company “a bad community partner.”

“If you want to work with someone, you do it in a constructive way,” Sandman said.

Turner said UNITE HERE is seeking to sit down with the company and agree on a labor process outside of standard NLRB protocol, including a union vote through card-check neutrality. John Russo, New England Linen’s general manager, did not return messages seeking comment.