Linen Workers Unionize

The nearly 3,000 hourly workers at the largest multi-product linen supplier in the U.S. have voted to join the Union of Needletrades, Industrial, and Textile Employees (UNITE). That vote, earlier this month, was the largest union election victory for UNITE -- which has over 250,000 members -- in over four years. National Linen Service, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based National Service Industries Inc., operates 28 laundries in the U.S. that serve institutional customers. Its workers wash, press, fold, and package napkins, tablecloths, sheets, towels, and other linens.