Lesac Corp. and Filter Technology Inc. have settled allegations of unfair labor practices with Arise Chicago, which is supporting former workers for the Illinois-based filter companies, the workers rights group announced Tuesday.
In September 2024, Arise Chicago filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago alleging Filter Technology and Lesac Corp. had fired three workers in retaliation for organizing in an attempt to improve working conditions, according to the complaint.
The two companies, which produce filtration products in Bedford Park, agreed to pay about $158,000 in lost wages and other compensation to the three former employees in February of this year, according to Arise Chicago.
This is the second time the companies have settled allegations for retaliatory discharge in the last two years.
“We are celebrating a victory by three very powerful women,” said Jorge Mujica, strategic campaigns organizer at Arise Chicago at a news conference Tuesday. “This is the second time the companies illegally fired workers in retaliation for their activities to improve their working conditions.”
Lesac Corp. and Filter Technology declined to comment.
Maria Garcia came to Arise after what she believed was an unfair termination by Lesac in 2023, Mujica said. Her co-workers at Filter Technology and Lesac took action asking for better working conditions and for the company to rehire Garcia. Four other employees were fired in 2023 and 2024 in alleged retaliation for trying to obtain better working conditions and charges were filed with the NLRB, according to Arise.
One of the workers terminated in those years was Reynalda Torres, who had worked at Lesac for about nine years. At the news conference Tuesday, Torres said she felt harassed and defamed by the company in the time leading up to her layoff.
She felt the company targeted her after it learned of her affiliation with Arise to organize for better working conditions, prompting her layoff, she said.
“They don’t agree that we should organize to defend ourselves,” said Torres, 65, who is from Mexico and lives in the Chicago area. “And I believe it was the right thing to do.”
Graciela Gonzalez, who is from Mexico and worked at Filter Technology for several years, said she felt depressed and anxious due to workplace conditions there. She said her bathroom trips were sometimes monitored.
On one occasion she broke into tears.
“I left the bathroom and there she was waiting for me,” Gonzalez, 50, said at the news conference.
After becoming involved with Arise, Gonzalez said she was fired along with other co-workers because her job allegedly was no longer needed.
“That was not true,” Gonzalez said. “After they fired us they hired other people.”
Filter and Lesac previously settled charges filed with the NLRB for terminating two employees, Claudia Terrazo and Mario Delgado, in retaliation for organizing to protect their workers rights in June 2024.
The companies have agreed to pay $220,000 in total compensation for allegations of retaliation against workers organizing for better working conditions, according to Arise.
