UE Protests Unionbusting by Stanley

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Monday's downpour didn't deter members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) from rallying in Arlington to protest intimidation and attacks against workers at the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) by Arlington-based Stanley Inc. After taking over two USCIS centers in Vermont and California last December, Stanley and five other subcontractors slashed workers' pay and cut benefits. "When workers objected to these attacks on their already inadequate compensation," UE reports, "an arrogant Stanley boss told them 'Get over it.' The workers responded by organizing." Stanley's anti-union campaign included eight-hour sessions with individual workers, three captive audience anti-union meetings a day, and banning discussion of union activity. USCIS Workers eventually won union elections last year but are expecting resistance during negotiations for a first contract later this year.