Voces de la Frontera: Palermo workers hold rally and press conference at Costco to launch national boycott of Palermo products

Contact: Joe Shansky 414-218-3331

Palermo workers hold rally and press conference at Costco to launch national boycott of Palermo products

Hundreds of students, working people and community members stand in support, join boycott efforts this Sunday

Milwaukee, WI —

Joined by union members, community leaders and students from the United States Student Association (USSA), the nation’s oldest and largest student-led organization, Palermo workers and Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) will hold a mass action and press conference this Sunday to highlight Palermo’s worker abuses and distribute boycott information to Costco customers. Costco is the largest retailer of Palermo products.

Workers from Palermo’s Pizza, a large frozen pizza manufacturer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have been on strike since June 1, 2012 to protest unfair labor practices. The workers are seeking union recognition and reinstatement after their employer fired over 75 workers. Many workers at Palermo’s face serious health hazards, have no sick days and make little more than the minimum wage. After nearly two month of striking, Palermo workers continue standing strong in the face of employer threats and intimidation.

In Milwaukee, the boycott has gained traction among consumers, small business owners, and working people, with several businesses committed to standing with workers in defense of the right to organize. Sunday’s event kicks off actions at Palermo retailers across the US in the coming weeks. Workers and students will be leafleting stores carrying Palermo products, asking businesses and consumers to support the workers’ rights to respect, dignity and safety at work.

USSA Students from across the nation will be coordinating their national conference in Madison this weekend to join supporters of the Palermo Workers Union at Costco on Sunday. This campaign also has the support of the National AFL-CIO and the United Steelworkers.

WHO: Palermo workers, union members, community leaders, Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), United States Student Association (USSA) and more

WHAT: Rally at Costco in Middleton, WI to ask Costco to pull Palermo/Kirkland pizza from its shelves

WHEN: Sunday, July 29th 2012, 9:30 am

WHERE: Costco, 2150 Deming Way, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562

Speakers:
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera
Victor Sanchez, President of USSA
Courtney Morse, President of United Council
Raul de la Torre, Palermo Workers Union
Sean Orr, Youth Empowered in the Struggle
Gary Mitchell, President of AFSCME Local 2412 & Costco member
Kevin Gundlach, President of South Central Labor Federation

For background on the Palermo’s strike, visit www.sliceofjustice.com