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PACE International Union Press Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carl Goodman, PACE Local 5-2002 President,
502-553-4000 |
PACE International Union: DuPont Violates Federal Law at Its Louisville Works Facility
The following statement is issued by PACE International Union:
Louisville, Kentucky – February 5, 2004
— A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision is forcing E. I. DuPont (NYSE:DD) to stop prohibiting employees represented by Local 5-2002 of the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical, and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) from wearing union t-shirts and stickers in support of their union and its bargaining position.The company also agreed to replace a union bulletin board and to stop prohibiting the union from posting information that is critical of the Louisville Works plant manager, Mike Sanchez.
Alleging violations of federal labor law at the Louisville Works plant, the NLRB issued a complaint against DuPont. The company has agreed in writing not to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights protected by federal law.
"It’s an outrage that DuPont management stooped to such low levels to try to intimidate and coerce the workers," said PACE Local 5-2002 President Carl Goodman. "The workers at this facility have been faced with management’s refusal to negotiate a fair contract for two years. We were very happy the government agreed that we have the right to show solidarity."
Last week Sanchez insulted both the local and the international union in his "state of the business" address by calling union members "knuckleheads and dum-dums." The union believes that his remarks are in retaliation for PACE’s public demand that the United Nations investigate DuPont’s labor rights violations.
"This current management regime can call us childish names—it’s much better than being known as a chronic violator of federal law," said PACE Region One Representative Jim Briggs. "The local anticipates filing more NLRB charges in response to Sanchez’s tirade."
In addition, Local 5-2002 has engaged in discussions with a community coalition regarding area environmental hazards.
Last year a majority of local workers petitioned DuPont corporate headquarters to remove plant manager Mike Sanchez. However, corporate headquarters continue to direct Louisville management’s anti-union, anti-worker tactics.
PACE International Union represents about 300,000 workers in the oil, chemical, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, atomic, kaolin, auto parts and corn milling industries. Please go to www.dupontcouncil.org for more information.
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