Photo courtesy of New York 1L

New York 1L members John Vellucci, left, and Pete Ricciardi, right, leaflet to let the public know that Quality House of Graphics is an unfair employer.

New York 1L stepped up its information campaign about the labor law breaker Quality House of Graphics through expanded picketing and leafleting activities.

Quality House of Graphics in Long Island City had been a union shop without contract problems for more than 60 years until the son of the company founder became president and refused to sign a contract with Local 1L.

The local said major issues in the contract struggle include the company's demand to take away the union security clause and pension benefits. The local said the company stopped making contributions to the union-sponsored pension plan more than a year ago.

In the past year, Local 1L said, 12 members have been forced out of their positions at Quality House of Graphics. About 120 people worked in the shop when the contract expired in March 1998.

Responding to union charges, the regional National Labor Relations Board found the company bargained in bad faith by making regressive proposals. The NLRB also charged that the company retaliated against the union for filing unfair labor practice charges.

Several months ago, Local 1L began picketing and handbilling such Quality House customers as Sony Corp. of America, Revlon, Chanel, Seagrams/Universal Records, Ann Taylor Stores, and Polo Ralph Lauren.

The local recently expanded the information campaign to such Sony vendors as Virgin Records, J&R Music World, Circuit City, and The Wiz.

The appeal for a letter and postcard blitz to Quality House customers is bearing fruit, the local said.

Local 1L Secy.-Treas. Tony Caifano said: "Howard Stringer and Sony have a moral responsibility to stop sustaining a company that breaks labor laws and disregards workers' rights. An informed public will not tolerate Sony's alliance with an employer that refuses to negotiate a contract and doesn't treat workers fairly."

In letters to Quality House clients, including Sony, GCIU Pres. James J. Norton expressed concern about the "deterioration of the bargaining process." Quality House's "actions have reflected an attempt to separate the union from these negotiations through intimidation of the employees, and such tactics leave much to be desired when the legal goal is to reach a collective bargaining agreement," he said.

Local 1L said that companies that no longer do business with Quality House after learning of the labor dispute are the Hard Rock Cafe, Donna Karan, Viacom/Show-time, and RCA/Bertelsman Music Group.

Local 1L is asking all GCIU members to help with its campaign at Quality House of Graphics with letters, postcards, or phone calls to the following companies that express concern about the company's illegal behavior related to the contract with Local 1L.