Why the IWW is in a labor dispute with the owners of Metro Lighting in Berkeley

by via the IWW

Wed, Aug 15, 2007 7:07AM

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 released 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

For more information: http://www.iww.org/en/node/3571

Add Your Comments

Comments (Hide Comments)

§I <3 Metro

by lemon

Sat, Sep 8, 2007 7:56PM

This is completely untruthful. I have bought lights and shades from Metro Lighting before, and have talked to the owners about the supposed "lock-out". The workers left the workplace, they weren't locked out. They all had keys, and the showroom was open. The sales impolyees make $15 per hour, not $10. All employees also receive 100% health benifits, and 50% health benifits for all dependants. The employee who is claiming to have been discriminated against because of his age has declined to participate in mediation to discuss the discrimination claim. And they metro employees who claim to be part of the IWW union never took the steps to become a union. They decided that the union represented them, but did not complete the proper procedure to verify this, even after the owners, Lawrence and Christa, requested that they do before being recognized as a union. Metro is currently closed due to a family emergency, and it is not certain when it will reopen.

Add a Comment

Support Independent Media

We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!