Workers Picket Outside Lighting Store
Submitted on Wed, 08/15/2007 - 2:33pm
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A group of employees from a Berkeley light fixture and home accessories store gathered yesterday to protest what they said were unfair labor practices and unsafe working conditions at the company’s San Pablo Avenue showroom and workshop.
Approximately 30 protesters, including employees from the Metro Lighting and Crafts, showroom and workshop and members of the Industrial Workers of the World union have been actively picketing the company since Friday, said Gabe Wilson, who has worked in the store’s workshop for three years.
Employees claimed that hazardous alkaline was released into the air Thursday as a result of unsafe disposal procedures in the workshop.
“Thursday morning there was a cloud of toxic dust and guys were trying to do a cleanup, and I knew I shouldn’t be there,” said Shannon, a showroom employee who declined to give her last name.
But the owners of the company, which has a total of seven employees and has been in business for 14 years, said the premises are safe for employees.
“We called the City of Berkeley Toxics Management Division and they gave us a clean bill of health,” said owner Lawrence Grown. “We passed inspection last year and this year and our safety training manual exceeds the standard.”
Grown said there was never a cloud of toxic dust, and that employees misunderstood a procedure meant to separate chemicals in a metal cleaning tank.
“We can’t yet verify with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that it’s safe, but there’s no proof that it’s unsafe,” he said.
Employees said they were also demanding a wage increase and protesting against what they said was discrimination against an elderly employee.
But Grown said that employees were recently given a pay raise and that the company has repeatedly tried to set up negotiations with the employee who claims the company practiced age discrimination.
“We are very proud of our company and the wages and benefits we offer,” Grown said.