Blacksburg, VA April 5, 2005 -- Local groups are protesting Cintas Corporation, a notoriously anti-labor and anti-environment company, that is sponsoring the annual community service day, the Big Event, at Virginia Tech. The rally will take place in front of the Blacksburg Post Office on Main Street on Friday, April 8, 2005 from 5:30-6:30 pm.

Cintas has been repeatedly fined for breaking worker safety laws, is facing NLRB charges for dozens of violations of workers' organizing rights and is being sued for race and sex discrimination. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed papers in federal court supporting a class-action discrimination lawsuit against Cintas. The company consistently pays its employees below the living wage, even in violation of living wage laws, where they exist. "Cintas workers could very well find themselves among those who need the help of the Big Event and its community service projects," says Margaret Breslau, owner of the Blacksburg store Homebody, and one of the rally organizers.