Tag: United States Student Association

Palermo’s Workers Speak Out Following Washington DC Meeting

Striking Palermo’s workers paused their daily picket line in front of Palermo’s, 3301 W. Canal St. in the Menomonee Valley for a brief press conference at 2:30 PM Friday. Workers offered immediate reaction to the outcome of a highly anticipated meeting between Palermo’s CEO Giacomo Fallucca and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in Washington D.C.

The AFL-CIO made it clear that they did not speak on behalf of the workers at Palermo Villa who are on strike for union recognition. The AFL-CIO communicated the Palermo employees most basic demand to the company: meet with the Palermo employees directly. At the meeting, Mr. Giacomo Falluca did not agree to meet with the striking workers.

Orlando Sosa, an employee of Palermo Villa for more than ten years and a member of the Organizing Committee of the Palermo Workers Union, expressed the sentiment of the workers when he said, “Palermo’s says they are a family company, but what kind of family refuses to talk with one another?”

Palermo workers have been on strike since June 1. They are demanding formal recognition of their union, the Palermo Workers Union, as well as immediate re-instatement of all striking workers who were fired. The workers are also calling for the company to follow the direction of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and cease any any re-verification or audit of workers documentation status. Continue reading “Palermo’s Workers Speak Out Following Washington DC Meeting”