Candlelight vigil at Cintas Monday

The vigil will start at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at the Cintas office at 11500 95th Ave. in Maple Grove. The union is running buses from the Minneapolis Labor Center and Sagrado Corazon church; contact Uriel Perez Espinosa at 612-968-6019, e-mail uperez@here17.org for more information.

The union said it has been informed that "more than 23 long term Latino and Latina workers from two Cintas facilities in Maple Grove and Eagan were suspended or threatened with suspension without just cause." The situation apparently arose after some employees were issued so-called Social Security "no match" letters by the federal government, indicating possible problems with their Social Security registration.

Leaders from faith and labor organizations and other supporters will demand the workers be reinstated and receive back pay and benefits for their time off the job while the Social Security problems are investigated.

The Social Security Administration, in information provided on its website, www.ssa.gov, states that the issuance of a "no match" letter "is not a basis, in and of itself, for your employer to change your job, lay you off, fire you or take other action against you."

Local 17 said it also has been told that Cintas is lecturing employees in two-hour "captive audience" meetings and instituting other requirements that are "immoral, unjust, wrong and against the law."

Cintas provides uniforms and other services to 700,000 businesses in North America.