MONROE – Seventeen Latino house painters who were fired after leaving work early to take part in a pro-immigration march are scheduled to be back at work today.
Laitala Enterprises of Monroe, the workers’ employer, negotiated their return with their union.
“Tomorrow, they’re going back to work. We had a conversation this morning and everyone felt it was in everyone’s best interest,” said Steve Bloom, servicing director for District Council No. 5 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. “What last week looked like a no-win for everyone has turned into a win for everyone.”
The workers will lose last week’s pay, but will be returning at the same pay and benefit levels as before their firing, Bloom confirmed.
A call to Laitala Enterprises from The Herald wasn’t returned by deadlines late Monday.
The workers were painting houses at a Fife subdivision on April 10 when they left about two hours early to attend a large march in Seattle. The rally, which attracted up to 30,000 people, called for immigration laws that would make it possible for illegal immigrants in the U.S. to gain citizenship.
The workers said they had given two weeks’ notice to their foreman; the company disputed that.
Reportedly, some of the fired workers may be here illegally, though Laitala Enterprises’ owner, Terry Laitala, told The Associated Press last week that the company hires only workers who have proper documentation.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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