A student-organized protest against uniform company Cintas failed to draw numbers during Tuesday’s job fair at the Convocation Center.

NIU’s Labor Rights Alliance had planned the protest over Cintas’ alleged anti-union practices. However, by early Tuesday afternoon, the protesting area stood empty.

Cintas, the largest uniform company in the country, has been accused in recent years of firing workers attempting to join unions.

Cintas representatives at the job fair said the protest has not presented any problems.

“It’s benefited us,” said Emily Longmore, a Cintas human resources manager.

The publicity has boosted student interest in the company, Longmore said.

The allegations against the company are part of a trend by shrinking labor unions to pressure the company into contract agreements, Cintas spokesman Wade Gates said.

Gates said unions such as UNITE favor card-signing petitions, which would abolish democratic elections by removing the option of a secret ballot.

“It’s not about unionization, it’s about how they’re unionized,” Gates said.

Gates said about 700 of the 27,000 Cintas employees are unionized.

LRA president Karl Huck was unavailable for comment.