The Nation - News from Dec. 23, 1987

Okonite Co. employees in North Brunswick, N.J., who were suspended for wearing Santa Claus hats on the job began returning to work with bare heads, but they plan to file grievances against their “Scrooge-like” company, said Lenny Zabiegalski, president of Local 1992 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The union represents about 230 employees of the electrical cable manufacturer that began suspending workers last week for wearing the red hats with white trim. The hat flap began last week when a testing department worker wore his Santa hat and was suspended. A second worker was told to leave Thursday and a third on Friday, before about 20 employees showed up Saturday wearing the caps. All were suspended, and by Monday about 120 people had been suspended, according to union officials.