Hundreds of property service workers protested outside the North American headquarters of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Thursday afternoon over the firings of 10 janitors from the pharmaceutical giant's Frazer, Pa. facility, according to the dismissed workers' union.
"What are you really saving when you cut workers that make $12 an hour?" asked Traci Benjamin, a spokeswoman for 32BJ SEIU, which represents 145,000 workers in food service, property maintenance, building engineering and security, among other service departments.
The union said Israel-based Teva (NYSE: TEVA) told them the decision to dismiss the janitors, who worked at 41 Moores Road, this past March was related to cost – a rationale Benjamin questioned given the pharmaceutical firm's recent acquisitions. For more on the protest and to get the latest business news, head to PBJ.com.
