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UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL WORKERS

 2001 N. Mayfair Road

LOCAL 1473 Milwaukee, WI 53226

Phone (414) 476-1444

Fax (414) 476-1039

 

Contact: John Eiden FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: (414) 476-1444 8 A.M. CST, February 15, 2012

Attorney Mark Sweet

Phone: (414) 332-2255

Press Release

 

 

 

 

MILWAUKEE, WI FEBRUARY 15, 2012: Yesterday the National Labor Relations Board filed alawsuit in federal court against Piggly Wiggly Midwest for violating workerslabor law. The NLRB processes over 20,000 unfair labor practice cases each year. Fewer than 1% of those end up in federal court. Piggly Wiggly and Paul Butera have now joined an exclusive club of the worst violators of federal labor law. The NLRB asked the court to issue an injunction against Piggly Wiggly's illegal conduct at its Sheboygan store. The NLRB filed for the injunction because the workers’ representative, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1473, filed charges with the NLRB that Paul Butera, Piggly Wiggly’s owner, illegally reduced workers wages, hours and benefits. The NLRB found merit in Local 1473 claims and has issued a complaint against Piggly Wiggly. An administrative hearing on Local 1473 allegations that Butera violated worker rights is scheduled to begin on February 22nd in Milwaukee. On Tuesday the NLRB went to federal court to have Piggly Wiggly immediately comply with federal labor laws and restore the benefits it illegally reduced. The NLRB took this action because it will likely prevail in its proceedings against Piggly Wiggly Midwest and without an injunction Piggly Wigglys actions could cause irreparable harm to the workers and the public interest. Acting on the allegations Local 1473 brought against Piggly Wiggly Midwest and Paul Butera, the NLRB is asking the court to restore working conditions that existed before September 2011 and that Paul Butera bargain in good faith with Local 1473 as required by federal labor law. Local 1473 expects the federal court will order Butera to stop violating the law and begin bargaining in good faith with Local 1473 as the workers ’ representative. John Eiden, Local 1473’s President, said today that the Union stands in solidarity to fight Piggly Wiggly’s violations of worker rights and workers’ right to earn a living wage and respectable working conditions.