GGP Ggp Inc. (delisted)

National Labor Relations Board to investigate charges that General Growth Properties and its contractors illegally targeted workers active in their union LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- General Growth Properties (NYSE:GGP), the second largest mall owner in the United States, and two of its cleaning contractors will face an investigation by the federal labor board over charges that the companies illegally targeted workers active in their union. According to six "Unfair Labor Practice" charges being filed today and two charges filed last month by workers in California, Colorado, New Jersey and Washington, the companies illegally interrogated, spied on, discriminated against, threatened to fire, and even fired workers who are active in their union. "I work hard for very little money but I was fired when I stood up for the basic things that everybody needs," says Luz Maria Flores, a janitor at GGP-owned Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood, Washington. "Workers should be free to choose to join a union if we want to." An unfair labor practice charge filed on Flores' behalf by her union, SEIU (Service Employees International Union) charges cleaning firm the Millard Group, Inc. with firing her for participation in union activities protected by federal labor laws. During the past few months, workers at more than 20 GGP malls nationwide have joined with SEIU to win living wages, affordable health care, and a voice on the job. After mall workers raised concerns about poor working conditions, GGP promised to give the janitors who clean their malls raises and to help fund a health care plan. The move falls short of improvements being made by the rest of the mall industry as other large mall owners have moved toward raising industry standards by using responsible cleaning contractors who respect workers' rights and pay decent wages and benefits. The use of responsible cleaning firms has a profound impact on communities as workers begin to be able to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. The six charges being filed today allege violations at Glendale Galleria (Glendale, California), Park Meadows Mall (Lone Tree, Colorado), and Alderwood Mall (Lynnwood, Washington). Workers at Paramus Park Mall in Paramus, New Jersey, and Park Meadows in Colorado filed two charges against GGP contractors Service Management Systems (SMS) and Millard in late July. With 1.9 million members, SEIU is the nation's largest labor union and represents more than 225,000 janitors and 50,000 security officers in 30 cities nationwide. DATASOURCE: Service Employees International Union CONTACT: Kevin O'Donnell of Service Employees International Union, +1-312-401-7598 Web Site: http://www.seiu.org/

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