Striking Palermo Workers Bring Mass Rally to Costco Headquarters

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Nov 15, 2012, 02:01 ET

Members of Palermo Workers Union who make Costco Frozen Pizza travel from Milwaukee to Issaquah to seek support from CEO.

ISSAQUAH, Wash., Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Striking members of the Palermo Workers Union will visit Costco Wholesale Headquarters for the first time since launching a national boycott in August against Palermo Pizza Products, which includes Costco's Kirkland Brand Frozen Pizza. Costco is the largest retailer of Palermo products in the nation and has failed to recognize the boycott of the pizza products despite public pressure by consumers and striking workers.

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WHO:
Striking workers; University of Washington students; members of the King County Central Labor Council, the Washington State AFL-CIO, community activists and United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President Fred Redmond

WHAT:
A rally

WHEN:
Noon, Friday, November 16

WHERE:
In front of the Costco Headquarters at 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, Wash.

WHY:
The striking Palermo Workers are traveling throughout the United States to highlight Palermo's worker abuses and to bring attention to the boycott of Palermo products to Costco customers.

Workers from Palermo's Pizza, a large frozen pizza manufacturer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have been on strike since June 1, 2012 to protest unfair labor practices.

The workers are seeking union recognition and reinstatement after their employer fired over 80 striking workers. Workers at Palermo are concerned about serious health and safety hazards; they have no sick days and make little more than the minimum wage.

Photograph and interview opportunities available

CONTACT:
Patrick Young (412) 298-6361

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)