KANNAPOLIS — Pillowtex CEO Chuck Hansen Jr. stood by his assertion this morning that
285 challenged ballots eventually will swing this week’s union vote in favor of the
company and signaled a lengthy battle before the election is finally settled.At a press conference this morning at
Fieldcrest Cannon headquarters on Main Street, Hansen said the unusually large number of
union challenges to employee votes seems to be part of the union’s overall strategy.
The Union of Needletrades,
Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE) took 2,270 votes compared to 2,102 votes against
the union.
According to Hansen, the union
challenged 228 ballots while the National Labor Relations Board questioned 57 ballots. The
company didn’t challenge any votes.
Hansen said he’s never seen
so many challenged ballots in a unionization vote. Hansen also predicted it could take
months of “massive discussions” to clear up the vote — that’s more
time than “certain people” would like, he added.
Likewise, in a press release
issued this morning, the union indicated the outcome of the election will not be known for
months. “The process for determining the validity of the challenged ballots will take
approximately two months if no objections to the election are filed,” the union said.
Bruce Raynor, secretary-treasurer
of UNITE, and Pillowtex employees were scheduled to hold a press conference this morning.
Hansen also stood by his claim
that the union is a bad investment for workers. “Uncle Sam takes his bite, then the
union takes its bite and you get to take home what’s left,” he said. “I
just don’t think that’s fair.” |
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