Metro lighting in Berkeley claims to be a "socially and environmentally correct 'green business'," but on Thursday, August 9, 2007, workers feared caustic alkaline may have been releasesd into the air as a result of unsafe disposal.

IWW members and pro-union workers were locked out that morning after complaining about a potentially serious chemical exposure in their workplace.

The lock-out is yet another union-busting move on the part of Christa and Lawrence Grown, co-owners of Metro Lighting. Workers have been taking collective action to improve their working conditions over the past five months and are demanding the following before they return to work:

* Proper clean-up of dispersed chemicals (caustic alkaline) by a certified abatement company
* Certification that the work environment is safe to return to
* Raise pay from $10/hr to $12/hr for sales staff
* Settle age discrimination violation in a timely mannerPayment for hours not worked due to this labor dispute

For more information, call Gabe at 510-395-1324



Original story:
http://www.iww.org/en/node/3571