Extraordinary Complaint calls for special remedies, charges anti-union consultant, and revokes previous settlement agreement

After 18 months of investigation, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board has found merit in charges that uniform laundry giant, Cintas Corporation, violated federal labor law in 19 facilities nationwide. Cintas is accused of illegally firing and disciplining union supporters, threatening workers with plant closure and unlawful interrogations among dozens of other charges.

The General Counsel issued a Complaint and there will be a hearing covering charges at 4 locations. Cintas is attempting to settle charges at 15 other locations.

In a rare decision, the General Counsel of the NLRB also charged Cintas with violating a previous settlement agreement covering its Charlotte, NC facility. That agreement has been revoked and the General Counsel NLRB is now seeking special remedies to rectify Cintas’ actions at this facility and a facility in Eagan, MN. Requested remedies include providing union representatives with access to posting areas in the Cintas facilities.

“Cintas workers should be applauded for courageously attempting to form a union,” UNITE HERE President Bruce Raynor said. “They are facing a company that is a repeat offender and continues to act as if it is above the law.”

“Richard Farmer, Cintas founder and chairman, visited our company and said that Cintas respects our right to organize a union,” said Jacob Salinas, a driver’s helper who was fired from a Minnesota facility involved in the complaint. “He needs to back up his words with his actions.”

The NLRB also issued complaint against Craft-Barresi Consultants, an industrial labor consultant employed by Cintas, for their role in the labor law violations.

“We won’t let up fighting Cintas on their anti-worker tactics,” Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said. ” We won’t stop until the company honors the workers’ legal right to form a union.”

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million members throughout North America. UNITE HERE represents more nearly half a million workers in the United States and Canada. UNITE HERE and the Teamsters represent more than 1/3 of workers in the uniform and laundry industry.