Published: September 16, 2008

Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ has accused Golden Gate Services Inc. of unfair labor practices at the Fairfax County Government office complex.

Local 32BJ filed a complaint Sept. 11 with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of 40 workers, claiming the Fairfax-based cleaning contractor has been threatening employees with discharge and retaliation for their lawful union activities.

New York-based Local 32BJ will be setting up times for the employees working at 12011 and 12055 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax and 12011 Sunset Hill Road in Reston to give affidavits.

The board will then interview Golden Gate, which employs more than 100 workers, to determine if they agree with the grounds of the charges. The employer rep named in the charge is Ki Hong, owner of the cleaning company.

The company could not be reached for comment.

"Threatening to fire men and women for working to improve life for their families is an injustice," said Jaime Contreras, director of the Local 32BJ Capital Area. "Golden Gate should get in line with responsible companies that treat workers with respect and just compensation."

The company, which maintains commercial office buildings in Fairfax, Herndon, McLean, Vienna and Reston, pays some cleaners $7 per hour.

Last year, in a move that primarily affects custodial, maintenance and administrative workers, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a living wage of $12.75 an hour for regular county employees. It also created a policy to encourage county vendors to adopt a similar living wage for their employees.

The investigation is estimated to take between 30 and 50 days.