State, local leaders back Linden workers in labor dispute

State and county leaders have jumped into an ongoing labor dispute at a paper products warehouse, backing workers locked in tense negotiations with management.

About 40 workers at Laminated Industries are sparring with the company for a contract that offers health insurance, paid holidays and increased vacation time, said Tom Walsh, president of Local 262 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). He said the workers never have had a contract.

"It's been a horrible fight," Walsh said.

The workers and union allies staged a protest outside the Brunswick Avenue warehouse Friday to call upon management to give greater consideration to their demands. Linden Mayor Derek Armstead and Union County Freeholder Chris Hudak appeared at the rally in support of the workers.

"We (the freeholders) believe in a worker's ability to collectively bargain," Hudak said before the protest. "That's inalienable, and the board has been consistent on that matter in our dealings with our own employees."

A lawyer for the company did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the dispute.

The organizing campaign began a year ago, with workers seeking out RWDSU to help them bargain.

The conflict escalated into a three-day strike in April, with workers walking off the job to pressure the company to release paperwork, like payroll data, relevant to negotiations.

In a statement, state Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Union, Middlesex, Somerset) said it was "shameful" that employees were working without a contract.

"The employees at Laminated Industries deserve a fair contract that ensures safe working conditions and a decent wage, and I stand with them in full support of their effort," he said. "They are part of a movement that over decades has helped to improve conditions for workers across this nation and is vital to protecting workers' rights."

County leadership strongly supports the creation of manufacturing jobs, Hudak said. But he said those jobs have to be safe and fairly compensated.

"We can vocally and loudly notify people that this is going on," he said. "We can lend support to those workers that are trying to unionize and make sure that they know that at all levels of government, they have support."

Source: NJ.com