Expose Bissell's Dirty Secret

Join the BISSELL Boycott!


BISSELL makes vacuum cleaners sold in stores throughout the country such as Kohl's, Macy's, Wal-Mart and Target. Their slogan is "We Mean Clean."

But BISSELL has a dirty secret. It turns out that the workers at the BISSELL warehouse suffer from inhumane treatment, including:

  • Discrimination against women including earning up to $2.50 per hour less than men doing the same job even with more time at the company.
  • Targeting and discrimination of a pregnant woman to do the heaviest jobs in violation of her doctor's restrictions;
  • The use of unregistered temporary employment agencies, a violation of Illinois state law;
  • Unfair pay, including pay cuts and paying some workers less than minimum wage, paying some workers dehumanizing wages as low as $2 per hour;
  • Threats of retaliation from management for standing up for their rights and filing charges;


When 70 workers at the BISSELL warehouse spoke out and blew the whistle on these illegal practices, they were fired - weeks before the holiday season.


To support these workers, local religious leaders have called for a boycott of BISSELL products until all workers who were unfairly fired are returned to work and their right to organize is respect.


You can join them in sending a message that you will not buy BISSELL products until the workers who distribute them are treated with dignity and respect.

Local Clergy Say: "Boycott Bissell!"


Workers Protest Bissell in Response to Mass Firing

November 6th, 2009 Warehouse Workers for Justice

Employees at the Bissell warehouse near Joliet, arrived to work at 6am today only to be informed they were all fired, but not before they trained their replacements.

Workers were fired en masse after filing legal complaints and charges last week over the many violations of state and federal law in the warehouse. On Thursday October 29th workers notified management that they had formed a union.

"This company has no respect for our rights. We will fight to force Bissell and Maersk to follow the law and treat workers with dignity," said Daniel Millan a forklift driver at the Bissell facility. "I will not accept losing my job because I stood up for my rights."

Update: Workers protested again today (11/12) in full force. View photos.

The warehouse has been using an unlicensed temporary employment agency that had repeatedly violated many state and federal laws, including paying some workers less than minimum wage. Workers also cited racial discrimination, unpaid wages and threats of retaliation for bringing these issues to management's attention..

Workers have complained that Bissell Homecare, via their management company and temporary employment provider violated various state and federal laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act which governs minimum wage, the Day Labor And Temporary Services Act, a state law that regulates temporary employment agencies, and the National Labor Relations Act, which governs workers right to association and organization, and the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race..

The Bissell warehouse, managed by Maersk Logistics, opened in January 2009 and is part of the expanding distribution industry in Chicago's suburbs. It supplies Bissell vacuum cleaners to big box retailers including Walmart, Kohl's and Target.

In Pictures:


Justice at Bissell/ Maersk/ Roadlink!


Justice at Bissell/ Maersk/ Roadlink!


Justice at Bissell/ Maersk/ Roadlink!

See more photos from Bissell on our blog.