Federal Government Finds Merit in Charges of Illegal Firing at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Federal Government Finds Merit in Charges of Illegal Firing at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Earlier this summer, we wrote about Richard Dieterle, a Wackenhut security officer at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Minneapolis. He went to discuss improvements with Wackenhut because the officers at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage were concerned about their poverty wages and poor treatment, and an overwhelming majority of them had signed authorization cards to form a union. Instead of beginning a dialogue or recognizing their union like a responsible contractor, Wackenhut fired Richard.

The National Labor Relations Board found merit in charges that Richard’s firing was illegal, and approved a settlement under which Wackenhut must now pay Richard nearly $7000 in back wages to make him whole. Additionally, Wackenhut must post a notice for 60 days in which they outline their employees’ right to form a union.

A few weeks ago, over 40 security officers and community supporters rallied outside Wells Fargo in Minneapolis:

They gathered to call on Wells Fargo to do the right thing by using responsible security contractors and by playing a positive role in the mortgage crisis that has hit Twin Cities neighborhoods.

Want to help? Call Cheryl Howard of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage at 515-213-7502 and tell her that Wells Fargo should use responsible private security companies that follow the law and respect their employees’ rights.