By H. Nelson Goodson
July 30, 2013
Milw., WI - On Tuesday, Voces de la Frontera (VDLF) announced that Palermo Villa, Inc. (Palermo's Pizza) under a settlement agreement with the fired striking workers, eight of 100 striking workers (union supporters) that were terminated for attempting to organize a union at the company will finally get rehired (reinstated) with back-pay totaling ten of thousands of dollars. "Palermo's Pizza has also agreed to post a notice to employees that they will no longer violate federal labor law," VDLF wrote in an e-mail news release.
VDLF reported that the settlement agreement, negotiated as a result of charges brought by the Palermo Workers Union, requires Palermo Villa, Inc. to immediately offer all eight employees the opportunity to return to their previous jobs; award a lump sum payment for back pay to all eight employees within two weeks; post a notice inside the factory explaining that Palermo's will commit to not breaking the law again when it comes to workers rights to form a union. The notice to current employees will also outline the terms of the settlement agreement, and must be posted in multiple languages for 60 days.
In a released statement, CEO Giacomo Fallucca said, "We have reluctantly agreed to this settlement, despite believing that the facts strongly support our position,” said Palermo President and CEO Giacomo Fallucca. “We do not admit to any fault in this negotiated settlement, but it’s time to move forward and let the voices of our workers be heard.” He noted that Palermo’s has long supported giving its employees the right to vote on this important issue and reiterated that the company will respect whatever decision the workers make in a fair and legal election.
There are at least another 92 fired striking Palermo Pizza employees who supported and signed a petition to form a union that Palermo Villa's administrators won't reinstate pending confirmation of their legal status to work in the country. Further negotiations between the fired workers, VDLF, and a union representing the terminated Palermo workers who are mostly Hispanics is ongoing.
In a released statement, CEO Giacomo Fallucca said, "We have reluctantly agreed to this settlement, despite believing that the facts strongly support our position,” said Palermo President and CEO Giacomo Fallucca. “We do not admit to any fault in this negotiated settlement, but it’s time to move forward and let the voices of our workers be heard.” He noted that Palermo’s has long supported giving its employees the right to vote on this important issue and reiterated that the company will respect whatever decision the workers make in a fair and legal election.
There are at least another 92 fired striking Palermo Pizza employees who supported and signed a petition to form a union that Palermo Villa's administrators won't reinstate pending confirmation of their legal status to work in the country. Further negotiations between the fired workers, VDLF, and a union representing the terminated Palermo workers who are mostly Hispanics is ongoing.
VDLF confirmed that there is a pending NRLB settlement with BG Staffing, a temp agency that was the employer for numerous fired union supporters.
The NRLB is currently investigating recent charges that Palermo's illegally fired an African-American employee who was engaged in pro-union activity at work.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is expected to open an investigation into Palermo's refusal to release federally mandated records of injuries which have been requested by a lawfully designated representative of numerous employees.
Palermo's has so far refused requests from elected officials to provide evidence that they fulfilled promises to create family supporting jobs with some of the $48 million in taxpayer money they have received in recent years, including loans they received via the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is expected to open an investigation into Palermo's refusal to release federally mandated records of injuries which have been requested by a lawfully designated representative of numerous employees.
Palermo's has so far refused requests from elected officials to provide evidence that they fulfilled promises to create family supporting jobs with some of the $48 million in taxpayer money they have received in recent years, including loans they received via the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
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