Memorial Union employees are alleging years of racism from their manager and are launching a weblog in a new effort to end the bigotry.

The employees are members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees group Local 171 that, according to treasurer and full time Memorial Union kitchen employee Mike Imbrogno, is a labor union representing blue-collar workers at the University of Wisconsin.

Imbrogno said Local 171 has tried to get the UW administration involved in eliminating preferential treatment of Caucasian workers over black workers at Memorial Union to no avail. Now the group is initiating a blog to try to spread the word.

In one instance, Imbrogno says Kitchen Manager Tim Vertein once fired a black worker for drinking a soda the employee had not paid for, while not disciplining a white worker who brought opium to work and then forced it on a female in a "secluded part" of the kitchen, according to a Local 171 release.

"The double standard down here is so ridiculous and so over the top that we need to get the information out because we won't stand for this," Imbrogno said. "And to have folks higher up on the chain ignoring this — it's just bullshit."

However, Mark Kennedy of Wisconsin Union communications said the cases of racism were dealt with four to six years ago, and there are no recent complaints.

"The complaints were found to be groundless," Kennedy said. "I think it's a great place to work."

But Mark Thomas, a steward for Local 171, isn't so confident in the Union's attention to the reported racism. Thomas said he thinks Memorial Union supervisors are "afraid" of the liberal response the campus community may give.

"It's like you'd have to burn a cross on the terrace for them to do anything," Thomas said.

Employees should not have to face inequality and harassment in the workplace, Imbrogno said, adding he thinks Local 171's blog will help their cause.

"It's a step in the right direction to raise awareness and put pressure on the powers that be to make sure they ensure a fair work environment," Imbrogno said.

Check out the weblog at http://memorialunionracism.blogspot.com.