2006 was a good year for restaurateur Sam Fox. His Scottsdale, Arizona based Fox Restaurant Concepts chain took in $45 million in sales as he announced plans to expand his “NoRTH” restaurant chain into Texas and Missouri and build up to 300 of his “Sauce” restaurants across the country.

For the laundry workers who wash his Arizona restaurants’ laundry, however, 2006 was not so good. Workers at Milum Textile Services, a medical and hospitality laundry in Phoenix, spent another year working in a dirty and dangerous plant laundering linens for Arizona restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. In addition to Sam Fox’s tablecloths and napkins, Milum workers must handle medical linens contaminated with blood and feces that may contain infectious pathogens found in a hospital environment.

In May, 2006 Milum was cited for the second time since 2002 with five “serious” violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s blood borne pathogen exposure control standards. OSHA defines a “serious” violation as a hazard “such that there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result.”

Milum workers are fighting for a safe workplace and for the chance to choose a union without management interference or intimidation. Since 2002 they have watched 1,200 other laundry workers in Arizona win respect and decent working conditions by joining UNITE HERE, and they believe their time has come to win the same.

They face a difficult fight, as business owners like Sam Fox continue to support Milum even as Milum suspends and discharges workers who support the union.

Unfortunately, Sam Fox is all too willing to take advantage of Milum’s low road approach, continuing to do business with Milum despite the company’s record of dirty and dangerous practices. Sam Fox needs to do the right thing and end his contracting relationship with Milum Textile Services.

Stand up with Milum workers; tell Sam Fox to take responsibility for laundry workers health and safety!