UNITE-HERE Steps Up Organizing Effort At Company Where Two Workers Died

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/7867

By Jesse Russell

Two workers at a New Jersey industrial dry cleaning plant died in December. UNITE-Here says those unfortunate deaths could have been avoided and since those deaths have been stepping up moves to organize the plant while also supplying workers with information on occupational safety. The company, North East Linen, has held meetings recently aimed at discouraging workers from organizing. The men died while cleaning toxic chemicals out of a storage tank. According to reports they had not been outfitted with proper safety clothing or gear. The union has faulted the company saying it should have provided the men with a gas monitors well as a safety harness connected to hoisting equipment.