Labor Targets ING Group for Supporting Gamma Holding's Union Busting in Ar

[Omaha Steve]

I have an ING account and have called my local rep. He wasn't in. I left a voice mail and asked for a call back.

http://www.uswa.org/uswa/program/content/3131.php

Labor Targets ING Group for Supporting Gamma Holding's Union Busting in Arkansas



For Immediate Release July 20, 2006



(Pittsburgh, PA) -- The AFL-CIO and the United Steelworkers (USW) have urged ING Group (NYSE: ING), a Dutch banking conglomerate, to assist in resolving a labor dispute between the USW and National Wire Fabric (NWF), a subsidiary of Gamma Holding NV. The USW is also working with FNV Bondgenoten, the largest industrial union in the Netherlands, on the campaign to end the year-long dispute. To date, ING has not responded to the unions.



ING Group is the single largest shareholder (26.19%) of Gamma Holding. Aris Wateler of ING Parcom is a member of Gamma's Supervisory Board. ING manages over $75 billion in pension funds, including public and Taft-Hartley funds where union members serve as trustees.



"ING, which has a controlling interest in Gamma, wants to manage retirement accounts for union members, but does not want to act to ensure that even the most basic union rights are respected," said USW president Leo W. Gerard.



Since its acquisition by Gamma Holding in 2001, NWF has adopted a confrontational labor strategy. As a result, members of USW Local 1671 have been on strike at NWF’s Star City, Arkansas facility since July 23, 2005. It is the longest strike in the history of Arkansas.



NWF has hired permanent replacement workers to destroy the union in direct violation of the International Labor Organization's convention on "freedom of association,” and in contradiction to Gamma's own published policies. The USW has filed a formal complaint against Gamma with the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development and the U.S. National Labor Relations Board.



AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka wrote Michel Tilmant, CEO of ING Group, that NWF's conduct was "designed to deny the employees the benefit of union representation" and "that ING Group should encourage Gamma Holding to apply responsible labor practices at its subsidiary, National Wire Fabric."



The USW plans to continue alerting other labor unions in the U.S. and worldwide about the ongoing anti-worker conduct of NWF and Gamma, which are being supported by ING.



Contact: Shawn Gilchrist - 412-562-6968

Barry Strange - 615-585-0810

[Omaha Steve]

1. I have $ in an ING account

I called the local representative. He was concerned and will get back to me. He knows I can transfer my account to a competitor. :-)