LANSING, Mich., Feb. 17, 2022 — Today, members of the Michigan House Democratic Caucus joined a coalition of labor voices in downtown Lansing in support of the United Six — a group of electricians formerly employed by United Electric Contractors. In a lawsuit filed last month, the group alleges that UEC maintained a retaliatory and hostile work environment where racial slurs and discrimination against Black and brown workers were commonplace. They held the demonstration in front of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan’s Lansing office — the trade association affiliated with UEC. In support of the United Six, state Rep. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford) issued the following statement:
“The United Six were forced to make a decision that remains all too common: face racial, discriminatory abuse daily or lose the ability to provide for your family. They instead chose a third option: stand up for yourselves, your co-workers and the dignity of all workers of color by coming forward with your experiences. Standing up for what’s right, especially when your livelihood is on the line, deserves to be praised. I’m proud to stand with the United Six and workers across the state who refuse to be treated like this any longer.”