With Union Vote Days Away, Elected Leaders Tell Julian Electric to Respect Workers’ Right to Free and Fair Election

WHAT:     Elected Leaders Deliver Letter to Company Executives, Hold Press Conference
WHEN:     Friday, Sept. 13, 2:30 p.m.
WHERE:   Julian Electric Inc., 15706 W. 147th St., Lockport, IL 60491

LOCKPORT, Ill. – A delegation of elected officials will deliver a letter Friday to Julian Electric executives calling on them to respect their workers’ right to a free and fair union election. The 350 workers at the Chicago-area parts manufacturer have their union vote on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and have been facing an intense anti-union campaign from the company.

A supermajority of Julian Electric workers have signed cards to join the United Auto Workers (UAW), but union supporters have been intimidated and even fired in the run-up to Tuesday’s election. Julian Electric, which supplies parts to unionized manufacturers like Ford and Caterpillar, has hired outside consultants to help orchestrate the high-pressure campaign against its largely immigrant workforce.

“We are fighting for respect and a real voice at Julian Electric and we will not be silenced,” said Alejandro Perez, a worker at the company. “Our voice is even stronger now that we have these allies standing with us.”

The delegation of elected officials will deliver the letter to company executives at Julian Electric’s Lockport Plant on Friday at 2:30 p.m. and then hold a press conference with workers immediately afterward.

 A copy of the letter with a list of signatories is below.

September 13, 2024

Anthony Julian
Julian Electric
15706 W. 147th St.
Lockport, IL 60491

Dear Mr. Julian,

The workers of Julian Electric have played a vital role in the success of the company, and we support their drive to be fairly compensated and fully respected for the work they do. Their campaign for a union voice will benefit us all.

With union employees, companies gain a more stable and reliable workforce and communities gain more prosperous families that enrich our neighborhoods and grow our economies.

Knowing this, we have been concerned by reports from workers that union supporters at Julian Electric have been intimidated, and even fired, as they have exercised their legal right to form a union. It is a bedrock principle of American law that workers make the choice to form a union for themselves, without any intimidation or threats from their employer.

We urge you to respect your workers’ rights in their September 17th union election, ensuring they vote free from any intimidation, interference, or retaliation, and that you work constructively with them in the future. 

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
IL Sen. Javier Cervantes
IL Sen. Mike Porfirio
IL Rep. Dagmara Avelar
IL Rep. Edgar Gonzalez Jr. 
IL Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid

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