Pulte Homes asks judge to stop union's campaign

DETROIT (AP) — Pulte Homes Inc., the largest U.S. homebuilder, said Tuesday its phones and e-mail accounts have been jammed since a labor union urged people to protest the firing of an Arizona employee.

Pulte, based in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., filed a lawsuit and asked a federal judge to order the Laborers' International Union of North America to stop the campaign and take down a Web site criticizing the company. Pulte said it's a victim of "sabotage."

Union activists "have interrupted Pulte's ability to conduct day-to-day business, threatened its employees and interfered with its relationships with the public, its customers, potential customers and vendors," lawyer John Birmingham Jr. said in a court filing.

The union, based in Washington, denied the allegations and said it wants Pulte to be a "profitable" and "responsible" company.

The lawsuit says a Tucson, Ariz., crew leader who worked for Pulte Building Systems was fired Sept. 4 for misconduct, not for wearing a union T-shirt. The union doesn't represent Pulte employees.

The union's Web site says seven workers were fired and denied pay while wearing orange union shirts. It has filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. Pulte's lawsuit, however, said it only terminated Roberto Baltierra, not others.

Pulte's national customer relations manager, Robert Schmittou, said he has received at least 750 e-mails and more than 100 voice mails that refer to the workers.

One caller said: "Don't make me have to come down there and have to find out who you is and what your problem is," according to Schmittou's affidavit.

In August, Pulte shareholders approved a $1.53 billion takeover of Centex Corp., creating the nation's largest homebuilder.

Pulte now is positioned to sell homes in 29 states and Washington, D.C., under brands such as Del Webb, DiVosta and Fox&Jacobs. Pulte also gained large tracts of land in Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina.