A labor dispute in seven Rocky Mountain states has an impact in Idaho. Unionized sales workers at Dex One Corporation in Boise and Twin Falls are on strike. The main issue isn’t about salary or benefits.
A half dozen union members held picket signs yesterday across the street from Dex One’s offices in Boise. They’re part of the company’s sales force, and have been on strike for about two weeks. Among them was Nancy Malloy. She’s worked at Dex for 21 years. Malloy is also chief union rep for the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. She says Dex wants to outsource their jobs overseas. "We feel strongly that a company that makes millions of dollars in this local economy has an obligation to keep jobs local here."
Malloy says about two dozen workers in Idaho are on strike. They’re joined by several hundred in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Chris Hardman is a spokesman for Dex in Colorado. He says the marketing and phonebook company has not proposed worker layoffs. "What we are asking to do is bring in additional partners who are more specialized in certain areas that can supplement what these folks are selling today." Hardman says only 20 percent of local businesses are now Dex customers so the company wants flexibility to reach more potential clients.
Copyright 2012 Boise State Public Radio