W&M Properties states that SEIU's Local 531 does notrepresent Metro Center's housekeeping staff and that, "No threatshave been made and no housekeeping staff members have been firedfor talking to a union organizer, as has been alleged." Thestatement continues, "The workers who walked off the job at theurging of the SEIU had to be replaced, since we have an obligationto our tenants to clean the building. Our new employees, as well asthose who remained, are satisfied with their pay and benefits,which we understand are as good or better than what the union hasachieved through contracts with individual building owners."

Metro Center's full-time housekeeping staff members are paidbetween $9.50 and $11 an hour, with full benefits, the companystated. The firm notes it pays part-time workers between $8.50 and$9.00 an hour, not the minimum wage of $6.15 an hour, as has beenalleged by union officials, W&M charges. "We are committed tocompensating all of our employees fairly for the work they do, andobject to the deliberate and knowing misrepresentation of the factsby the SEIU, W&M officials say.

Union officials told GlobeSt.com that they believe W&M waspaying part-time janitorial staff minimum wage until the workerswalked off the job earlier this month. Seven striking janitors inFairfield County began a hunger strike on Oct. 25. In fact, thehunger strikers have pitched a tent outside the Metro CenterBuilding in Stamford. Two of the hunger strikers were formerW&M employees, according to the union. However, they were notmembers of Local 531 until after they walked off their jobs.