It’s not often that you see labor activists get in the grill of a large advertising concern, but that’s what’s happening in New York City, where members of Industrial Workers of the World (the Wobblies) are protesting the rough treatment workers at Havas’ Media Planning Group (MPG) received last spring.
MPG recently cut 11 percent of its staff, primarily at its headquarters in New York. But the media giant did not anticipate that one of its former employees, Joseph Sanchez, would publicize their anti-worker practices.
“This extremely profitable corporation laid me off just to put extra money in their pockets,” said Sanchez, who worked in the client accounting department. “Instead of making a living wage, I’m surviving off unemployment benefits and food stamps.”
Founded in 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World is a global labor union dedicated to workplace democracy and the dignity of all working people.
The union is pressuring Sears and Kmart, two of MPG’s biggest clients, to cease working with MPG until more equitable severance packages can be negotiated for the 50 fired workers.
