The Student Labor Action Coalition hosted a protest and sit-in at Bascom Hall Thursday to demand Chancellor David Ward cut ties with Palermo’s Pizza Company, citing allegations of labor violations.
The issue stems from Palermo’s firing numerous workers at a factory in Milwaukee in June 2012 after the workers attempted to unionize to protest poor wages and working conditions.
Two former Palermo’s workers, Jesus Gaona and Esperanza Gonzalez, shared their experiences working for the pizza company, which they said included being forced to work overtime. The workers also described co-workers who were injured on the job and felt pressured to return to work the same day.
Co-President of the Teaching Assistants Association Charity Schmidt also spoke at the event, calling for the university to cut its contract with Palermo’s to force the pizza company to rehire the workers.
“This is enough Ward, cut the contract,” Schmidt said.
