Zach Thoemke (R), celebrates a victory at the NLRB with former Seven Corners employees William Cushman (L) and Noah Johnson. (submitted photo)
As a union organizer, I meet a lot of workers who’ve been treated unfairly – and plenty of employers who want nothing to do with fixing it. So when I got a call about Seven Corners, a local printing shop, I expected another long, uphill battle. Workers there were fighting to dissolve their sham ‘union’ and establish real representation with IUPAT District Council 82.
At first, that’s exactly what it was: a fight. The shop’s employees, Noah and Will, stood up for themselves even as the previous owner refused to recognize their right to organize. Together, we filed to dissolve the fake union through the National Labor Relations Board. It took research, persistence and countless hours of paperwork. But without a lawyer, we went toe-to-toe with the company’s attorney and won.
After the NLRB ruled in our favor, the shop changed hands and became CE Print & Promo under new owners, Steve and Brian. When I reached out to explain the situation, they were stunned to learn that the previous owner had been operating under a phony union agreement. Within 24 hours, they met with us in person to make things right. I could tell right away that this was going to be different.
Steve and Brian brought documentation from their legitimate union shop in Des Moines to show how they take care of their workers. When we brought forward a contract to negotiate, they came back with an even better offer than we’d proposed. They didn’t just want to fix the problem; they wanted to set a new standard for what being a responsible, union-friendly employer looks like. Even though they’re the kind of employer who doesn’t need a contract to know how to treat people, they were ready and willing to work with our union and establish a good relationship.
In all my years of organizing, I’ve never seen a contractor move so quickly to remedy a grievance. They didn’t hide behind lawyers or make excuses. They just moved to make it right. Noah and Will got their back benefits corrected, and even though they’ve since moved on to new jobs, they still have a good relationship with CE Print & Promo. Will even came back and helped train new employees.
Today, CE Print & Promo is a proud partner of DC 82 Local 880. They’re working with us on new training programs for sign and display work – something no one else in the area is doing. And they’re not just in it for themselves. Their goal is to improve the sign and display industry overall, establish good relationships with other contractors, and raise standards across the board.
In a time when so many employers are fighting unions, CE Print & Promo chose a different path. They showed that accountability and compassion can go hand in hand – and that doing right by your people is just good business.
To other workers out there: speak up. You deserve fairness, respect, and a voice on the job. It may be daunting, but you are more powerful than you know, especially when you unite with other workers. We were able to hold our own at the NLRB hearing without legal representation and come out on top. If you need help organizing or fighting unfair labor practices, contact your local union. Organizers like me are here to help; you don’t have to go it alone.
And to other employers: look to CE Print & Promo as an example. When you listen to your workers and work in partnership with their union, everyone wins.
I’m proud of what we accomplished together, and I’m even prouder to see this shop leading by example. CE Print & Promo didn’t just clean up someone else’s mess. They set a new gold standard for what a responsible contractor can be.
– Zach Thoemke is an organizer with Local 880 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), an affiliate of District Council 82.
