The SEIU (Service Employees International Union) has a reputation for employing thuggery and intimidation to achieve its many goals. Typically, SEIU’s tactics are used against Tea Partiers and bank executives, but this time, the organization has turned its attention to the American unit of a French catering company, Sodexo.
The Blaze explains:
SEIU has been fighting to represent 80,000 hourly Sodexo employees, which is above and beyond the 180,000 hourly employees who are already union members. The union regularly stages protests against the company to make its point, like this one last fall on the campus of George Mason University (pictured above). The video alleges SEIU bused in protestors, who can be heard chanting, among other things, As long as it takes, whatever it takes, well be in your face!
According to Sodexo, the methods used by the union against the company include intimidation, extortion, and sabotage in the form of plastic cockroaches. As a result, Sodexo is seeking a lawsuit against the SEIU under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Robert Stern, general counsel for Sodexo USA, issued a statement indicating, We work constructively with unions every day but the SEIU has crossed the line by breaking the law. We will not tolerate SEIUs tactics any longer.
The lawsuit, which has been filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, claims that the SEIU engaged in blackmail, vandalism, trespass, harassment, and lobbying law violations.
Sodexo details the allegations:
- Throwing plastic roaches onto food being served by Sodexo USA at a high profile event;
- Scaring hospital patients by insinuating that Sodexo USA food contained bugs, rat droppings, mold and flies;
- Lying to interfere with Sodexo USA business and sneaking into elementary schools to avoid security;
- Violating lobbying laws to steer business away from Sodexo USA, even at the risk of costing Sodexo USA employees their jobs; and
- Harassing Sodexo USA employees by threatening to accuse them of wrongdoing.
Stern notes, This [lawsuit] is about protecting the Companys business and the rights of our employees to vote freely about union representation. Their campaign jeopardizes our company and our employees jobs, and ultimately would rob our employees of their right to vote.
Stern asserts that the purpose of the lawsuit is to seek an injunction against the union and its executives, as well as to secure monetary damages.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the SEIU has little interest in maintaining a positive public persona, as the union continues to be the subject of controversy. In just this last week, the SEIU has been in the news for storming a bank headquarters in Pennsylvania, while conservative pundit Glenn Beck uncovered an SEIU officials plan to destabilize the American economy.
Where is the outrage and the public repudiation against the SEIU by its supporters that organizations like the NAACP and Soros groups demand from Tea Partiers at the slightest hint of questionable behavior at local Tea Parties?
