Social-service agency accused of intimidating pro-union employees

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Social-service agency accused of intimidating pro-union employees
By MICHAEL LAFLEUR, Sun Staff

LOWELL -- The heated battle to unionize at the Lowell agency LifeLinks Inc. has carried over into contract talks between the agency and its newly unionized work force.

Officials with Local 509 of the Service Employees International Union have filed more than 20 unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against LifeLinks, which serves developmentally disabled adults throughout Greater Lowell. The charges accuse the agency of wrongfully suspending or otherwise targeting, intimidating or coercing union activist employees, who voted to join SEIU in February.

They come as Chelmsford attorney Peter Lawlor, chairman of LifeLinks board of directors, said SEIU has yet to make any specific wage or compensation demands.

"Apparently their negotiating style is 'punch in the nose, step one, ask for compensation, step two,' " he said.

Full story: http://www.lowellsun.com/front/ci_3819512