Danny Glover Walks Picket Line With Striking Terre Haute Factory Workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-08-2009/0005074309&EDATE=

With negotiations set for Monday, workers and allies rally against employer's invasive medical testing, efforts to use temporary workers, and the company's disregard of its workers rights

TERRE HAUTE, Ind., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Earlier today, striking Bemis factory workers in Terre Haute, Indiana were joined by actor and activist Danny Glover, as well as community allies, in a picket line and worker rally. Workers discussed fears of losing their health care and their job security. They also called on Bemis, a manufacturer of flexible packaging materials, to reach an agreement that maintains the standards that workers have won through years of commitment to the success of their factory.

"The workers are fighting for what is right and fighting for what is just," said Glover. "I'm proud to be a part of that."

"I've worked at this plant for five years and I work alongside many people who have been here for twenty years or more," said striking Bemis worker Chris Scott. "None of us are about to surrender our basic rights or be intimidated by this company."

Last year, without negotiating with its workers, who are members of Workers United Local 1426, Bemis announced that it was going to require all employees, and their spouses, to submit to invasive Health Risk Assessments (HRAs), including blood tests, in order to remain eligible for their health insurance. The way in which this decision was made, without bargaining with worker representatives as the law requires, was not only illegal, but was insulting to workers and their families.

Charges were filed by the union with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over the company's action, the government issued a complaint against Bemis, and the NLRB eventually approved a settlement of the case to resolve this dispute.

FULL story at link.