For Immediate Release: Fri., Feb. 3, 2023
Contact: Chelsey Engel, (412) 212-8173, cengel@usw.org
(Pittsburgh) – The United Steelworkers (USW) stands in support of the workers at Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Hello Neighbor as they face a classic and vicious union-busting campaign.
The dedicated workers who provide top-notch and much-needed services to refugees and immigrants in the community filed a petition last month to form a union and have faced relentless harassment from their employer ever since. Most recently, the CEO terminated three workers, all of whom signed a letter stating their intent to join the USW.
More egregiously, the termination agreement forced them to choose between severance pay and a confidentiality clause, and the ability to bring allegations of unlawful activity to federal and other agencies.
“We’ve seen these types of anti-union tactics before, but it’s even more frustrating to watch an employer, whose supposed mission is to uplift the community, tear down their own workers,” said USW District 10 Director Bernie Hall, who coordinates bargaining throughout the state of Pennsylvania. “Firing employees and taking staff away from refugees and immigrants who need and deserve help and resources does nothing to help anyone.
“We urge CEO Sloane Davidson and the Hello Neighbor board to reinstate the terminated workers and respect their right to organize.”
The USW has filed unfair labor practice charges today through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.