February 21, 2013
M13-010
To: SPEEA Council Delegates
From: Rick
Hoffman, Dave Baine, Joel Funfar and Brent McFarlane
Subject: PRESUBMITTED NEW BUSINESS: Motion in Support of Palermo Workers Union
About 150 workers from Palermo’s Pizza factory in Milwaukee, WI, representing three-fourths of its production workers, have been on strike since last June 1. The Palermo Workers Union is fighting to get respect and dignity on the job, having fired workers reinstated, and making Palermo’s CEO, Giacomo Fallucca, recognize their union.
Here’s
what they have accomplished:
·
More than 17,000 people signed the petition launched to get
Fallucca to do the right thing and recognize the union. Hundreds more made calls on the day they tried
to deliver the petition.
·
When Fallucca refused to listen to them, they expanded their
campaign to Costco. Since then, 15,000
people have sent Costco e-mails and hundreds of calls have been made to
encourage Costco to get involved.
·
Thousands helped spread the message about their strike to their
friends on social media by sharing videos, photos and other content, posting
messages on Costco and Palermo’s Facebook pages, and more.
·
Even more have walked with Palermo workers on the picket line or
joined a solidarity action in their city.
·
Last month, many supporters joined their call to get UW-Madison to
cut its contracts with Palermo’s by posting a message on Facebook and Twitter
and calling UW-Madison.
All of this has led to major victories. Businesses across Milwaukee have pulled Palermo’s
from their shelves. Students at campuses
across the country have called on their universities to cut contracts—with some
schools close to doing so. Costco has
begun an investigation of Palermo’s over the concerns raised by the workers. Elected officials across Wisconsin have put
pressure on Fallucca and Palermo’s management to do the right thing.
Motion
It is moved that the SPEEA Council support the struggle by the
Palermo Workers Union,
And it is further moved that the SPEEA Council recommends a contribution of $5,000 be made to
assist the Palermo Workers Union in their struggle.