Day 3 - Picket Metro Lighting in Berkeley in Solidarity with IWW Members

Metro lighting in Berkeley claims to be a "socially and environmentally correct 'green business'," but on Thursday, August 9, 2007, they released caustic alkaline into the air as a result of unsafe disposal. IWW members and pro-union workers were locked out morning after complaining about a 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 manner
• Restore IWW flag to flag holder in back workshop
• Payment for hours not worked due to this labor dispute