News

As a result of unfair labor practice charges filed by the United Steelworkers, the Finish packaging company Huhtamaki has agreed with the National Labor Relations Board to inform employees  at its plant in Commerce, California about their rights.

The charges, filed under the National Labor Relations Act, alleged that Huhtamaki violated the rights of its workers by changing its no-solicitation policy and by enforcing that policy in a discriminatory manner to remove pro-union materials from the employee break room.

Under its agreement with the Board to settle the charges, Huhtamaki will send a notice by e-mail to all of its employees, and will post the notice for 60 days on company bulletin boards, informing employees as follows:

"FEDERAL LAW GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO:

• Form, join, or assist a union;

• Choose a representative to bargain with us on your behalf;

• Act together with other employees for your benefit and protection;

• Choose not to engage in any of these protected activities.

WE WILL NOT remove union literature from the employee breakroom, except during routine janitorial services, to prevent clutter, litter, or unsafe or unsightly conditions, or to maintain a clean and sanitary facility.

WE WILL rescind the last sentence of our No Solicitation or Distribution policy in our employee handbook that states: "Literature or materials left unattended on Huhtamaki's premises will be collected and removed." The rescinded portion of the policy will be replaced with the following: "Literature or materials left unattended on Huhtamaki's premises may be collected and removed during routine janitorial services, to prevent clutter, litter, or unsafe or unsightly conditions, or to maintain a clean and sanitary facility."

WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with your rights under Section 7 of the Act."

Please contact USW or visit the facebook page for more details.

To read a comprehensive report on Huhtamaki, released by AFL-CIO and United Steal Workers, please click here.

P.S. United States National Labor Relations Act:

Section 7:  "Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representation of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining …"