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DIRTY DEALINGS AT CITIZENS Editor, Review Magazine, Are you aware that Citizens Banking Corporation has terminated the agreements with every single one of the local cleaning contractors in Saginaw and Michigan? Some of these firms have been maintaining Citizens branches for over thirty years. CBC has hired an out-of-state company named UNICCO. I encourage your readers to investigate a website named www.uniccodirt.com which gives a sweeping view of the workings of this company and the many sexual harassment, health and safety, labor, legal and credit problems this firm has experienced. UNICCO will, in most cases, sub-contract this very same work back to the same locally owned family businesses for much less than these locally owned firms were earning from Citizens Banking Corporation. This will be done while UNICCO keeps a significant amount of ten to 15 percent for administration and so called 'inspection' services. UNICCO was kicked out of all Michigan/Ameritech/SBC facilities three-and-a-half years ago for providing substandard workmanship. Has their work improved since? Hardly. UNICCO has racked up a series of health & safety violations endangering both employees and clients. UNICCO paid over $75,000 in fines to OSHA since 1999 and according to OSHA records, two UNICCO employees working in industrial facilities died as a result of accidents on the job in 1999 and 2001. In a Boston labor dispute, the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against UNICCO on numerous charges, including threatening employees with termination for engaging in legal union activity. For local firms, last year in 2002 the average net profit of these locally owned companies was only approximately 2 to 4% of their gross sales. Now they will make 0% from those Citizens Banking Corporation branches. Meanwhile, in 2001 UNICCO made $590 million in revenues. The real tragedy is that these locally owned businesses support local organizations; youth sport teams, non-profits and local governing units. UNICCO will not be sponsoring anything, period. What a shame that Saginaw's 'hometown bank' is turning against their neighbors. Sincerely, J. Resson Saginaw POLLUTERS 'DREAM BILL' PASSES THE HOUSE Under the Republican Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) budget bill that passed the Michigan House on May 14th, polluters that dump toxic chemicals, waste and pollutants in Michigan will not be held accountable. House Bill 4393, which passed by a 60-48 vote, ignores protections in the Governor's proposed budget that held polluters accountable and saved taxpayers money. "This bill is a polluter's dream come true," said State Representative Carl Williams (D-Saginaw), who opposed the bill. "They get to pollute our lakes, rivers and streams and Michigan taxpayers get to pay for the privilege." Each year, approximately 1,300 permits are issued by the DEQ that allow factory and sewage treatment plants to dump toxic waste and chemicals into Michigan's waterways. Michigan is one of only eight states that do not charge for these permits. As a result, Michigan taxpayers are on the hook for approximately $10 million a year to cover the cost of issuing and enforcing these permits. The Governor's proposed budget would have charged polluters for these permits. "Michigan taxpayers should not have to cover the cost for the companies to pollute the water we drink and air we breathe," said Williams. "The Legislature should place the burden where it belongs - on the backs of polluters, not taxpayers. The Republican DEQ budget bill also cut funding for criminal investigations and state oversight of toxic air emissions. As a result, there will be little oversight and monitoring to catch individuals illegally polluting Michigan's land, air and water. ____________________________ The Review welcomes your letters and comments. Please send all correspondence to: Letters to the Editor, Review Magazine, 318 S. Hamilton St., Saginaw, MI 48602. Or you can e-mail us online at letters@review-mag.com
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