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. Stephanie A. Young (D-Detroit) issued the following statement:
“I am grateful for the United Six and their courage to stand up and speak out against the racist behavior they endured, simply trying to make a living as skilled electricians. Faced with consequences of losing their jobs and the ability to care for themselves and family, they still knew they had to expose it, if there would ever be a possibility of change. Every person deserves to be treated fairly and without discrimination, no matter the color of their skin. I stand in solidarity with the United Six and call for better protections for workers across the state.”
###