Statewide Boycott Called By Palermo's Pizza Workers At Picket Line On Strike For Union Rights

Photos: HNG

Employees claim that they are forced to prepare and make pizza while they are sick at the company or they'll be fired after three to four days of being absent for being ill.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 5, 2012

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, about 130 Palermo's Pizza workers who went on strike since Wednesday are calling for a statewide boycott of Palermo's products. The official call for a boycott will be announced on Wednesday, according to workers at the picket line.
Temperary workers were hired to replace the striking employees from multiple shifts. Palermo's executives haven't confirmed, if they have been terminated for demanding fair working conditions, sick leave, higher wages, benefits and the right to form a credited union at the plant.
Workers on strike say, ill employees are forced to work and make pizza products while being sick because they're not allowed to take extended sick leave or they'll face termination. Pizza products are at risk of contamination, if ill employees work closely with preparing food at the plant.
About 80% of the employees decided to organize and signed a petition to form a union as allowed under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. The act requires companies to recognize a union, if 30% of employees petition for a company to recognize their union. The company refused to recognize their efforts to organize and threaten to terminate any employee that supported a union or any demand to seek extra days needed to get well when ill to prevent any health risks to customers buying products. The employees filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.
Last week, a segment of the workforce at Palermo's Pizza at 3301 W. Canal Street main plant decided to walk out and strike.
Most of the employees at the picket line are Hispanic and they say, the strike will continued as long as it takes to get a fair settlement from Palermo's Villa owners. They are calling for people in Milwaukee and the surrounding metropolitan area and around the state to stop buying Parlermo's Pizza products. The strike will continue until the Palermo Villa executives concede to reasonable negiotiations leading to a neutral settle or compromise, which would benefit both the company and employees.
The striking Palermo's Pizza employees range in seniority from one to 10 years of employment at the company. A segment of the 200 to 250 employees at Palermo's received a notice from the company last week warning some employees of dismissals, if they continue to organize a workers union at the plant in Menomonee Valley. Another large segment of employees didn't receive the letter, according to some of the strikers.
Palermo's security were preventing potential customers from speaking, associating or taking photos of strikers from the property, if they were going into the shop to buy pizza. The Palermo Villa executives could not be contacted for comment on site about the boycott of their products.
The head of security wouldn't contact anyone in charge for a comment. Media outlets are being barred from the property, according to the Palermo's head of security who didn't want to be identified.
The strike was also sparked last week by a proposed stricker U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employment vertification of workers at Palermo's Pizza. Palermo's Pizza is the brand of the frozen manufactured pizza by Palermo Villa, Inc.
Palermo's Pizza management has confirmed to local media that their employees are legally able to work at the company. The strike hasn't effected any production deadlines, according to management.
A Palermo's workers strike fund was created to help the striking employees.

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Palermo's Pizza Workers On Strike Demanding Better Working Conditions, Higher Wages, Benefits And A Union

Photo: Voces de la Frontera Facebook

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement stricker worker vertification standards at Palermo's Pizza sparked workers strike.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 5, 2012

Milwaukee - On Friday, Palermo's Pizza workers at 3301 W. Canal Street engaged in a strike to demand better working conditions, higher wages, benefits and to be able to form a credited workers union at the company. The strike was sparked last week by proposed stricker U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employment vertification of workers at Palermo's. Palermo's Pizza is the brand of the frozen manufactured pizza by Palermo Villa, Inc.
The company did a lock down several days ago. The Palermo's management has considered replacing the striking employees with other temperary workers, but has stepped back from doing so for the moment, according to striking workers.
Palermo's management says, the strike hasn't disrupted any production, despite the strike.
A Palermo's workers strike fund was created to help the striking employees, according to Voces de la Frontera Facebook page.

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Abele Approved Policy For Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office To Limit ICE Detainer Request To Hold Illegals

Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office facing limit undocumented inmate detainer hold requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 4, 2012

Milwaukee - On Monday, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele signed a resolution to limit the Miwaukee County Sheriff's Department cooperation for holding illegals upon detainer hold requests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to Primitivo Torres, from Voces de la Frontera. Torres confirmed that Abele signed the resolution that was approved by the Milwaukee County Board on a vote of 14-4 in late May. The County Board had approved an ICE Detainer Limit Resolution 12-135 to limit the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) from honoring requests by ICE to hold non-criminal aliens or undocumented suspects for longer periods when processed by the sheriff's department. Non-criminal illegal suspects or inmates being held by MCSO would be exempt from being held more than 48 hours when they are targeted for legal status confirmation and removal by ICE, if illegally in the country. The resolution was sponsored by Supervisors Peggy Romo West, Russell Stamper II, Nikiya Harris, David F. Bowen and County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic.
The supervisors had argued that, ICE detainer requests are not mandatory under federal law and ICE doesn't refund the high costs to Milwaukee County when excessively holding illegals. Between 2010 to 2011, the MCSO held 439 suspects under ICE detainer requests, including 193 inmates who were in the country illegally.
Abele was reluctant to approve the ICE detainer limit resolution and was expected to veto it because he believed that it was a federal immigration issue and not a county issue, according to county sources. But members from Voces de la Frontera and other supporters of the resolution were able to successfully lobby for the passage of the policy. Abele was finally convinced to approve the resolution, according to Torres.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. had said, the resolution passed by the County Board in May was politically motivated, but he also agreed that it's a federal immigration issue. Now, Clarke Jr. is facing enforcement of the resolution, since Abele approved it on Monday. Will Sheriff Clarke Jr. comply with the ICE detainer limit hold policy? It remains to be seen.
Under the policy, if honored by Sheriff Clarke Jr., only certain illegal inmates and suspects would be held on ICE detainers.
Any suspect would be detained under ICE request, if the suspect has been convicted of at least one felony or two misdemeanor offenses; convicted or charged of any domestic violence offense or any violation of a protective order; convicted or charged with intoxicated use of a vehicle; suspect is a defendant in a pending criminal case, has an outstanding criminal warrant, is identified as a gang member and/or a possible match on the U.S. terrorist watch list.
In 2010, Sheriff Clarke Jr. admitted that ICE has accessibility to information gathered from people they have arrested. The booking information accessible to ICE is the suspect's name, date of birth, place of birth, Social Security number and race, which the sheriff's department compiles from everyone that has been arrested or detained in Milwaukee County.
Clarke Jr. says, the department works with other law enforcement agencies by sharing information and did not dispute allegations ICE has access to information of persons processed by the department. He did confirm that the county jail has been in an agreement for the last five years with the feds to hold illegal immigrants under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program and the county was reinburse about $135,000 in 2009. In 2008, the county received at least $60,000 under the program, according to Sheriff Clarke Jr.
Under the above agreement, the MCSO has to check the legal status of everyone they suspect is an illegal alien and report their results to ICE.

Copy of Milwaukee County Board ICE Detainer Limit Policy at link: http://bit.ly/Kwa3W9

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Mitchell Street Thieves Strike Again On Monday After Sunday's Sun Fair Ripp-off Of Thousands Of Dollars

Locked 21-speed mountain bike reported stolen from outside of the Mitchell Mall on W. Historic Mitchell Street.

June 4, 2012

Milwaukee. (HNNUSA) - On Monday, the W. Historic Mitchell Street thieves operating in the area struck again after ripping off more then $5,000 worth of items from Sun Fair vendors on early morning Sunday (article link: http://bit.ly/K6OUA6). A senior citizen reported a 21-speed "NEXT Mountain Ridge" bike stolen to police from near the main entrance to the Mitchell Mall at the 1000 block of W. Historic Mitchell Street. The victim told police he stopped to go into the mall and locked the bike with a thick cable lock around 5:40 p.m. and then came out about ten minutes later to discover that the bike had been stolen.
There are several surveillance cameras posted outside the mall and the senior citizen hopes the thieve or thieves were caught on video surveillance.
The bike was locked at the light solid pole near the entrance of the mall. A suspected thieve or thieves must have used a heavy cable cutter to remove the bike from the location without the owners consent.
Several police officers, P.O. Rusch and P.O. Blumbach responded to the non-emergency call shortly after the bike was reported stolen. The bike has a license sticker registered with the City of Milwaukee, according to the senior citizen.
The bike is very distinct, it has a large black and yellow brand name decals "NEXT" style with aluminum frame and 26" tires. The worth value of the bike was estimated along with accessories and other items on bike seat carrying bag at $400.00.
Any information about the theft or suspects contact Milwaukee police.

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Five Burnt Bodies Discovered Inside SUV By U.S. Border Patrol In Arizona's Pinal County

The Pinal County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the burnt bodies of five unidentified people were found in Vekol Valley.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 4, 2012

Florence, Arizona - The Pinal County Sheriff's Office confirmed that U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered an SUV in flames on Saturday. Five burnt bodies were recovered from the vehicle.
U.S. Border agents spotted a similar SUV in the Vekol Valley and when they went to do a traffic stop, the driver sped away and disappeared. Agents later spotted multiple fresh set of tracks from people walikng on the ground and followed the tracks for several miles.
Later they came upon an SUV, which had been set on fire. The SUV looked similar to the one the agents were chasing earlier. Five burned bodies were found inside, four of the bodies were located in the cargo area and another one by the rear seat.
Federal, state and local authorities continue to investigate the multiple homicide case.
They believe the murders are connected to warring border drug cartels in the area and the deadly attacks might have spilled into the U.S. from Mexico.

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Sun Fair Vendors Ripped Off By Thieves On Early Sunday Along Mitchell Street

Photo: HNG

Security lapse between 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. allowed a group of about ten thieves to steal, soda, food, stuff animals and other items from Sun Fair vendors.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 3, 2012

Milwaukee - Police on Sunday continued to investigate the largest rip-off that has hit the W. Historic Mitchell Street Sun Fair, since it began to hold an outdoor festival last year along Mitchell Street. On Sunday morning, Jorge López, co-owner of López Bakery, who participated in the three day Sun Fair reported that a cooler from his vendor's tent was stolen and might have been used by thieves to carry food and sodas stolen from other booths.
An estimated $5,000 to $7,000 worth of items were taken and a Milwaukee police report should be released by Monday. An officer who didn't want to be identified confirmed that a vendor's booth by the old Goldmanns building had the side of a tent slashed open and items were scattered all over in the morning. Another vendor reported that about $5,000 worth of stuff animals were stolen from their booth. A jewelry vendor also had all the items stolen from the booth, according to a Sun Fair organizer.
Other items reported stolen from various booths were sodas and food. No cash has been reported missing as of yet.
López said, that two private security guards with a dog finished their shift and left around 6:00 a.m. and left an hour open without security until vendors arrived to get ready for Sunday's final day of the festival. The festival ends at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Between 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., a group of thieves struck along the three block festival area and stole thousands of dollars of merchandise and items. It seemed to be a coordinated ripp-off, according to police. Police are looking at surveillance video from local businesses to see, if they can identify any of the Sun Fair thieves.
One of the key organizers of the Sun Fair who didn't want to be identified said, security had moved to another area while patrolling the festival and apparently the thieves took advantage that security were down the block and struck. The thieves took a lot less then what was reported by vendors, but the organizer could not confirm how much worth of merchandise, jewelry, soda and food was taken.
The organizer said that last year, the mechanical games brought in about $150,000 alone and estimated last Saturday's crowd attendence at 11,000 and for Sunday at 10,000 festivalgoers. The second annual event is considered the southside's largest street carnival. Sun Fair was sponsored by the Mitchell Street Business Improvement District #4.

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Milwaukee County John Doe Criminal Investigation To File Charges Against Several Top GOP Members

Governor Scott Walker

Several top GOP members and close associates of former Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker expected to be charge in John Doe criminal investigation after the June 5 election.

By H. Nelson Goodson
June 3, 2012

Milwaukee - The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office is expected to file multiple charges in the John Doe probe against several top GOP members and close associates of former Milwaukee County Executive Scott Waker. Governor Walker (R) who is trying to get re-elected to serve and finish his first term could also be targeted with similar charges that might implicate him in a conspirarcy circle to engage in unethical action while at the county level and alleged statements made in the John Doe criminal investigation.
At least 13 former Walker associates, while he was a Milwaukee County Executive had been granted immunity in the John Doe investigation. Investigators didn't want to prosecute those who were granted immunity, but for them to get immunity, they must have provided key information and evidence sought to finally file charges against several top GOP members and possibly Governor Walker. A reliable source has confirmed that multiple GOP members and Walker are expected to face alleged charges in the John Doe probe.
The two year John Doe investigation is expected to finally charge those responsible for the Milwaukee County debacle, corruption and scandal that sparked the investigation.
So far, six Walker close associates, including three county aids have been charged either with misdemeanors or felonies in the John Doe probe. Walker has established a legal defense fund, hired two attorneys and has transferred more than $200,000 to the legal fund from his campaign funds.
Walker maintains that he is not a target of the John Doe investigation and continues to cooperate with authorities. Walker says, the liberals are just making allegations to try to influence next Tuesday's election. He expects to get re-elected in a tight race against Tom Barrett, the Democratic candidate. Barrett says, Walker has spent ten to every one dollar he has spent in the campaign and is surprised that Walker is in a tight race with him. People want change and the polls indicate it, according to Barrett.
More than 180,000 absentee ballots were cast throughout the state last week, according to the Wisconsin Government Acountability Board (GAB). The GAB is expecting a 65% or 2.8M voter turnout for the June 5, Recall Walker election.

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