Farm labor organizers say they have discovered more than 100 migrant fruit pickers living in a Central Valley cherry orchard where they have been sleeping outdoors and bathing in drainage ditches.
Find out the rest of the story (including where Big Bird comes in, and what you can do to help) after the jump...
United Farm Workers representatives say they found the men, women and teenagers camping in the orchards west of Shafter on Thursday.
Union organizer Armando Elenes says many of the workers traveled from Washington state at the request of Wenatchee, Washington-based Stemilt Growers Inc.
The company denies involvement, but public records show that a partner in the company owns the land.
Mathison Orchards referred inquiries to Stemilt Growers, a company that packages and markets its produce. When asked why Mathison would have workers sleeping out in the open and bathing in irrigation water, a Stemilt spokesperson responded that the workers knew what they were getting into:
Stemilt spokesman Roger Pepperl said the workers had access to bathrooms and fresh well water, and that there was "no agreement or suggestion" that the workers would be given housing.
One of the farm workers said, "I asked where do we shower? And he said 'There's the water hole.' ... and there's ducks and fish! I asked, 'We shower there?! Where do the women shower?!' He said the same place."
Another farm worker said, "I came from Washington state. We came here to work, but they haven't treated us like they should and we're a little worried because we may not have enough money to go back to Washington."
Ever since the discovery was made, the UFW has been working to secure housing for these workers. But the company is maintaining its position that it did nothing wrong, despite all evidence to the contrary.
Why would Sesame Street want their characters and trademark name associated with a company like Stemilt?
Sesame Street is known as a show that builds the character and values of young children. Does Sesame Street want to be associated with the values represented by Stemilt?
First Coast Railroad workers join UTU Workers at Genesee & Wyoming Inc.'s (GWI) First Coast Railroad recently voted in favor of being represented by the United Transportation Union. The employees previously were unrepresented.
A switching railroad, First Coast was acquired by GWI subsidiary Rail Link from CSX Transportation in 2005 and provides switching services at the Port of Fernandina, Fla. The railroad's 31-mile line runs west from the port through Yulee, Fla., and then north to Seals, Ga., where First Coast interchanges with CSXT.
ORGANIZING INSTITUTE DEADLINE NEXT WEEK: Time is running out to register for the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute's June 6-8 organizer training in Baltimore. "Registrations should be into us by May 30," TJ Marsallo tells UNION CITY. The training will give activist union members basic organizing skills, including one-on-one communication skills, how to move workers to take action, leadership identification and the basic elements of a union organizing campaign. AFL-CIO affiliated and non-affiliated unions are welcome to attend. For details, contact Marsallo at 202-639-6290 or amarsall@aflcio.org.
Obama made his first public comments about the American Axle strike last Thursday in Macomb and then, suddenly, there’s an agreement. I highly recommend seeing the video and listening to what he says about American Manufacturing jobs:
Let's take a look at the “agreement” Mlive has the skinny:
DETAILS OF THE DEAL
Details of the tentative agreement between the United Auto Workers and American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc.:
WAGES: Varies by factory location. Production workers in Detroit would see pay cuts from $28 per hour to $18.50, up from $17 the company was offering. Factory support workers would make $14.35 in Detroit and $10 per hour in Three Rivers.
BUYOUTS: Workers with less than 10 years of seniority could get $85,000 to leave the company. Those with 10 or more years could get $140,000.
PLANT CLOSINGS: Company will close forges in Detroit and Tonawanda, N.Y. No date was revealed for the closures.
EARLY RETIREMENT: Workers who are 60 or above with 10 or more years of service could get $55,000 to retire.
BUYDOWNS: Workers would get three annual payments to make the transition to lower wages. The maximum amount would total $105,000.
BONUS: Workers would get a $5,000 signing bonus.
THE VOTE: Starts Monday at some UAW locals. A large local in Detroit votes Thursday.
The “deal” is pretty darn disappointing especially in light of American Axle’s profitability, rare in the GM spin-off companies. So, let’s take a look at the striker’s reactions from the AP to step up their coverage of the American Axle strike:
After the meeting, Adrian King, outgoing president of UAW Local 235 in Detroit, said the session didn't go well. Workers were angry about the deal, and their frustration was compounded by a malfunctioning public address system that hampered questions from the crowd. "We had a lot of angry brothers and sisters," he said. "It's definitely a hard-looking contract, very tough pill to swallow for the membership."
>snip<
Most workers leaving the meeting Sunday predicted the vote will be close. One worker tossed pages of the summary into the air as he walked out.
"There will be a lot of unhappy people," Reed said as he carried a picket sign outside the school. "But I think it's going to be accepted."
Today, American Axle workers are voting on this “deal”. From Mlive for some, it’s good news like:
Jeff Claussen, 58, of Three Rivers, said he is prepared to take a buyout and will retire after 28 years at the Three Rivers plant. His 59-year-old wife, Ruth, retired last year.
"If you prepared for retirement, and we have for the past 20 years, then I guess you're all set," Claussen said.
I'm voting no. It's totally unacceptable," said Gary Reed, 52, of Warren, who criticized American Axle Chairman and CEO Richard Dauch for making millions while asking production workers to take a pay cut from $28 per hour to $18.50.
"It's a slap in our face," Reed said. "We've been watching this guy making millions and millions of dollars even while we've been on strike, and were going to accept a stab in the back and just walk away with a smile on our face?"
"I feel like I'm done, but I have no choice," said Tod Rippe, 43, of Dearborn. He said he plans to accept a buyout and may move out of Michigan. "It's a nightmare. It really is."
Mike Ulicne, 39, of Trenton said the contract would be tough to accept.
"I'm relieved, but not happy or satisfied," Ulicne said.
>snip<
Terasiena Cunningham, 36, of West Bloomfield started a similar chant for workers gathered outside the school. Cunningham said she feels workers gained little, if anything, by going on strike.
"We can get better than this," she said. Cunningham also said she wished the two sides had extended the contract that expired Feb. 26, allowing workers to stay at their jobs as negotiations continued.
Former Local 235 UAW Vice President Erik Webb, 39, of Detroit said a much calmer meeting was held Sunday afternoon at the Local 235's union hall in Hamtramck, and predicted the contract would pass.
"Everybody who has been out on the picket line has been frustrated. People are ready to go back to work," Webb said. "We didn't really get what we wanted to get, but something is better than nothing."
>snip<
"Most of us are at a point where, financially, we are so ruined that this contract beats being homeless," said Michael Dudun, 46, of St. Clair Shores.
Workers at American Axle are hurting and some are willing to vote for anything. After 11 weeks (Wednesday marks 12 weeks out), it’s understandable. Again, from Mlive
Local workers have been living on $200 a week in strike pay. Many workers who said they were unhappy with the settlement said they would vote for it anyway.
"It's just a nasty situation," said Curtis McCall, 45, an American Axle worker who attended an informational meeting Sunday in Detroit. "You almost have no choice. If you vote no, then really you're out in the cold."
Workers will see their wages slashed under the deal.
A 54-year-old worker from Lockport Township, who declined to give his name, said he will see his pay drop from $27 an hour to $14.50. The 15-year employee said Sunday he hadn't decided how he would vote.
"We're putting one of our trucks up for sale, I've sold some scuba equipment on eBay -- but I just don't think we can adjust to such a drastic rate in pay," the worker said.
The summary of the contract distributed by the union said there will be buyouts of $85,000 for someone with less than 10 years with the company and $140,000 for a worker with more than 10 years. An offer of a $55,000 early retirement bonus also was included in the proposed contract.
Workers would get a wage "buydown" of up to $105,000 paid over three years to help ease the transition to lower hourly pay. The size of the buydown would vary with the size of a worker's pay reduction.
It’s even tougher to swallow a contract like this when you know that Dick Dauch will be shelling out nice bonuses to himself again next year.
But then again, what can we expect in this day and age? The haves like Dauch can reap $10 plus millions dollar compensation packages while the working stiff gets a whopping $14 to $17 an hour. Seems an awful lot like the times of the Robber Barons and I for one don’t want to return to the days of ole and the likes of Carnegie and Rockefeller.
I don’t know how I’d manage with a 50% reduction in income even with the 3 year buy down. I suppose, like many others, I’d be looking at a new line of work or a new job, just like Jerd0708:
I have been on the hunt for a new employer. Going well. I think I am going to take the buy out either way. I had a real nice interview with a forging / machining company out in Wayne. My pastors brother in law works there and loves it. They have been looking for CNC experienced guys to start up a new machining building. They can only handle about 20% of there work there right now so they are building a huge new building with all new equipment to bring all the work back in-house. Good money and they just got a huge contract with a wind mill company making rings for the shafts and generators. They are 100% non automotive. Quarterly bonuses to the workers and great benefits.
Another company I have been dealing with is in South Carolina. Had two phone interviews and now they are flying me down for a plant tour and sit down on Tue the 13th. I really like this company too. They are a German firm that make Engines and Crankshafts. Huge in Germany. They have a lot of new equipment. They are offering me a shift leader position. Money will be close to what I was making Pre-Strike. All Benefits and a lot of time off. Wife really wants to stay here but is cool with leaving too.
Voting on the contract is taking place today, so we should know tonight if the contract has been ratified. I’m very happy that they might be going back to work this week, but I still have to say that this is a really awful pill to swallow. For those choosing to go down the path that Jerd0708 has now chosen, there are profitable forges in the States doing good precision work with owners who aren’t trying to reap for themselves on the backs of their workers. Unfortunately, AAM isn’t one of these companies and Dick Dauch isn’t one of these owners. For me, it really all comes down to Dick’s entitlement mentality; he’s entitled to all of it and hell with his workers.
American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. boosted its wage offer and increased the payments it will give workers to take a wage cut as part of a tentative agreement that could settle an 11-week strike by the United Auto Workers union, a person briefed on the deal said Saturday.
Okay, so I'm happy that there is movement now on this, it's cool, really cool. I'm especially elated that this movement comes just DAYS after OBAMA spoke about this.
I heard about this through an e-mail from one of the striker's families:
So, Obama has finally recognized the strife of the American Axle worker. It wasn't much but he did mention us in his speech today at Macomb Community College. I feel that he should have visited our picket lines today instead of a Chrysler plant in Sterling Heights. But as I have learned; our struggle isn't much of anything to others just us....for now. Until it affects the rest of us one day soon. I won't complain much - we received more attention with his comment then I thought we ever would.
The American Axle comments start at 1:09 and the applause at 1:17 (it's a solidarity thing). I think you should also read some of the text, here are my favorite pieces from the speech:
Not too far from here, at American Axle, UAW members have gone on strike to fight for good wages, and good benefits, and a decent standard of living. These are things that all hardworking families should expect and that UAW members deserve, and we stand in solidarity with the folks on the picket lines, and the families impacted by this strike.
Their struggle is part of a larger struggle that's being waged not just in Michigan, but all across the country. It's a struggle to ensure that we have good manufacturing jobs so American workers can raise a family, have health care when they need it, put their children through college, and retire with dignity and security. They're common hopes, modest dreams, but they're slipping out of reach for too many families.
It's a small mention, however, it's a big time mention about the entire industry and how too many decision are made in boardrooms that effect workers without workers even being involved. Way to go Barack, way to go!
I won't stand here and tell you that we'll be able to stop every job from going overseas or bring every job back. But I will tell you that we can end the Bush-McCain policy of giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas, and we can start giving those tax breaks to companies that create good-paying jobs right here in America. Instead of opposing job training similar to what's being offered at M-Tech, like John McCain has, we can make sure every American has the skills to compete in the global economy. We don't have to stand idly by while foreign competitors outpace us in making the cars of the future. I'm running for President to make sure that the cars of the future are made where they've always been made - right here in Michigan. Because the fight for American manufacturing is the fight for America's future - and I believe that's a fight this country will win.
Personally, it's a fight we must win.
So, thank you Senator Obama for making a more important and relevant statement about the strike and the issues facing American manufacturing.
As for American Axle's strike, here's what AP is saying now:
The deal is similar to what the UAW agreed to with auto parts maker Delphi Corp. last year, the person said. In that deal, Delphi agreed to pay workers "buy downs" of $105,000 over three years.
Noncore workers, which are those that aren't involved in actual manufacturing, would be paid $14.55 per hour, the person said, while skilled trades workers would get $26 per hour.
American Axle confirmed Friday night that both sides had agreed on a deal, but details weren't released. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said in a statement Friday night that the American Axle bargaining committee voted to recommend the agreement to members, who would get details starting Sunday.
The agreement, which still must be voted on by about 3,600 workers at five plants in New York and Michigan, includes the closure of American Axle's Detroit and Tonawanda, N.Y., forge operations. It also has a separate but lower pay scale for American Axle's operations in Three Rivers, Mich., the person said.
Just a look at the kind of people this will effect in Tonawanda:
My bigger issue with this agreement is that it might not actually be ratified by the membership. They are giving up a great deal to keep these jobs. So, is it worth the 11.5 weeks they've been out to get very little more than what was originally offered by Dick Dauch, a man who took more than $10 million last year from American Axle in compensation and bonuses. Again, from AP:
Strike captain Duane Thompson said ratification will depend on whether workers believe they can get a better offer. He thinks a better deal than what's been reported can be negotiated.
"There's a bunch of us who don't like it because we feel we deserve more, or just leave what we have alone. But don't take away from us," said Thompson, a Hamtramck resident.
Thompson also said he worries about the impact this contract could have on future contracts for all UAW workers.
"If we pass it, it will make people look funny at us: 'Did you do everything in your power to win, or did you just give up the fight?'" Thompson said.
Skilled trades worker Doug Sherrill, of Macomb County's Macomb Township, said Saturday that union workers are skeptical.
"We're happy we got a tentative agreement, but is it going to pass? The way people feel around here is it's going to be a tough sell," Sherrill said.
UAW workers were picketing Saturday, and plan to continue until an agreement is ratified, but they are feeling the pinch of living on strike pay for nearly 12 weeks, non-production worker Leo McGucki said.
"There's a lot of people hurting," McGucki said, a Warren resident who has worked for American Axle for nearly 13 years.
Still, Thompson said the workers know what's at stake.
"This is our livelihood we're talking about. We can't take that lightly," he said.
I wonder how many of us could stand by and just let it happen. I don't think I could. I just don't know how much more the strikers can take. I don't know how much more the rest of us can, either.
Well, I hope the AFL-CIO doesn't mind me cross posting their stuff, cause I'm going to do it anyway:
The U.S. Senate today moved a step closer to approving legislation that would protect the collective bargaining rights of tens of thousands of firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and other public safety officers.
By a 69–29 vote, the Senate killed a filibuster led by several extreme anti-worker Republican senators against the workers’ rights bill. Eighteen Republicans joined all Democrats in backing the move to end the filibuster. The vote on final passage is expected later this week.
Some 20 states do not fully protect the bargaining rights of firefighters, police officers and other first responders. Two states—Virginia and North Carolina—prohibit public safety employees from collectively bargaining.
With final passage near certain, the only thing that stands in the first responders’ path to securing the workplace rights most other workers enjoy is a veto threat from the Bush administration. But today’s veto-proof vote, coupled with last July’s 314–97 House vote, provides more than the two-thirds majority needed in each chamber to overturn a veto.
Says Fire Fighters (IAFF) President Harold Schaitberger:
More than 80,000 of our brother and sister firefighters in more than 20 states do not currently enjoy basic employment rights. This bill will ensure that every firefighter has the right to collectively bargain.
The bill, the Public Safety Employee-Employer Cooperation Act of 2007 (H.R. 980), guarantees first responders:
The right to join a union. The right to have their union recognized by their employer. The right to bargain collectively over hours, wages and terms and conditions of employment. A mediation or arbitration process for resolving an impasse in negotiations. Enforcement of the bill’s provisions through the courts. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) says:
Fairness means firefighters and police officers having a voice at the table in life-and-death discussions about their work. They know best how to do their jobs effectively, efficiently and safely. Everyone benefits when they’re given the chance to share that knowledge at the bargaining table.
But last week in a letter to Senate leaders, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Attorney General Michael Mukasey and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff wrote they will suggest that President Bush veto the bill. In addition to the veto threat, the trio wrote that if first responders were allowed to join unions, it would hinder the nation’s ability to respond to terrorist and other threats.
Says AFL-CIO President John Sweeney:
This claim impugns the integrity of first responders who risked and sacrificed their lives on 9/11 and in the aftermath of Katrina. Every one of the 343 firefighters who perished at Ground Zero was a card-carrying union member.
In a May 12 response to the letter by Chao, Mukasey and Chertoff, Schaitberger said:
Your decision to attack the integrity of America’s firefighters cannot be left unanswered. Claiming that the legislation will hinder the nation’s ability to respond to terrorist attacks is both factually inaccurate and offensive. Every one of the 343 firefighters who perished at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, was a card-carrying union member who enjoyed collective bargaining rights. Most of the responders to the horrific tragedy were not even on duty that day. They simply did what firefighters always do: They put their own safety at risk to save the lives of others.
The same is true of the courageous responders to Hurricane Katrina. Despite losing their own homes and fearing for the security of their own families, union firefighters waded into the toxic floodwaters for days on end searching for survivors. To suggest that their collectively bargained contracts hindered these life-saving efforts flies in the face of reality.
Says Kennedy:
Collective bargaining is good for our national security, and it’s good for public safety officers. These heroic men and women deserve more than just our gratitude and respect. They deserve the right to be treated fairly on the job
The reason this is so important is that even when unions exist for firefighters, they still run into cities and other municipalities screwing them over kind of like the way that Calitics pointed out 2 months ago and CBS also ran a story on it...
Vallejo Fire Department temporarily closed two fire stations on Thursday in a deal with its firefighters union aimed at helping the city avoid bankruptcy, officials said.
>snip<
Firefighters described the closings as a sad situation.
"Everyone's moving, everyone's getting new crews and we're all going to get a lot busier," said Fire Capt. Eric Diaz, who had been working out of station 22.
In addition to the closure of the fire stations, minimum staffing levels will be reduced from 28 firefighters to 22 firefighters per day as well as staffing reductions in Fire Administration, Fire Prevention and Fire Training Divisions, officials said.
City Hall has not rescinded the paramedic layoffs - they have simply postponed their decision. Threatening lay-offs is an attempt to force firefighters to agree to the city's demand to reduce Vallejo 's minimum staffing requirement. Even paramedics who may lose their jobs will never agree to cut minimum staffing, because any cuts would jeopardize the safety of their fellow firefighters and the public. Firefighters took this job to protect the public, and they will gladly lose their jobs for the same reason - if City Hall persists in their threats.
To protect the city, we must have a combined total of 28 firefighters scheduled daily. The City wants to eliminate 4 positions per day. This would take us from 28 to 24 firefighters per shift. These cuts mean shutting down the ladder truck, closing additional engines/stations, laying off 13 paramedics, and an emergency services coordinator.
Communities like Vallejo have opted for lower taxes. Maintaining lower taxes means less revenue to pay for necessary services like Fire and Police. As a mom, this isn't an acceptable level of risk for my family.
A few years ago, my 12 year old was propositioned and then touched by a high school student as she walked home from school. The police in DC were so helpful. Although they never caught the kid who did it, my daughter felt like she had a safe place to go and someone she could call if she were in danger again. Not only did a horrible incident bring about her ability to find help and believe in herself, but it also illuminated for her and I the kind of work that our police do on a daily basis.
I won't try to sugar coat the lack of solidarity I see among 1st responders, it's there. They are called on to turn hoses on protests or to arrest demonstrators and I don't think we need to revisit the images of the recent American Axle Strike rally and a Detroit Police Officer chokeholding a woman crossing the street or the vile things he said to the strikers. There's work to do with First responders. Of course, I think the first step is to make sure that they can be represented by a union. Like the fire fighters in Vallejo. If they hadn't had a union, I have no doubt that the staffing numbers would have been further reduced.
When our safety is concerned, isn't it worth ensuring that 1st responders are able to be represented? I think it is. And now, let's work on that darn solidarity thing. Cause I have to also point out here that in typical McCain fashion, he didn't even bother to show up to vote on this. Clinton and Obama both voted yea. That should speak volumes to every American interested in their safety and it should be even more important to Police, Fire fighters and other first responders who often vote Republican. In the end, who's really got your back?
We can work together to stop corporate abuses, but we have to do it together. In that spirit, I'd recommend we all nominate my favorite "screw" the worker companies of the day, American Axle and Kongsberg Automotive.
Here's the current list of nominees:
The Nominees Archer Daniels Midland for making Indonesia the world’s worst contributor to global warming (after the U.S. and China) through its clearing of endangered forests and wildlife habitat for palm oil plantations. Read more.
BlackWater for killing unarmed Iraqi civilians, hiring paramilitaries trained under military dictatorships, and using its close political and financial ties with the Bush Administration to secure lucrative contracts. Read more.
Countrywide for predatory mortgage lending to elderly and non-English-speaking borrowers, and for gouging minority borrowers with discriminatory rates and fees. These actions have forced nearly a quarter of subprime borrowers into default, at the same time their CEO earned a $120 million salary. Read more.
Mattel for producing tens of millions of lead-contaminated toys and aggressively lobbying against bans on other highly toxic chemicals. Read more.
Nestle for numerous labor violations including child exploitation, contributing to the obesity epidemic, and threatening community water supplies for its bottled water brands. Read more.
Toyota for aggressively lobbying against increased fuel economy standards and state measures to reduce global warming gas emissions, while hypocritically spending millions to advertise its environmental leadership and popular Prius line. Read more.
Wal-Mart for displacing local businesses, failing to cover employees under the corporation’s health plan, and opposing legislation that would increase homeland security. Read more.
Wendy's for its contribution — as America’s third largest fast food franchise — to the growing childhood obesity and diabetes epidemics, and for refusing to meet nutritional labeling regulations. Read more.
Even though these are their current list of corporate slime, let's face it, there are lots more and right now on the top of my list are AMERICAN AXLE and KONGSBERG AUTOMOTOVE. And it would be absolutely fantastic if you'd give them some love, too. And head over to the Corporate Hall of Shame and push them in as write in candidates. I think they both deserve this honor.
I know this is coming as a SHOCK to everyone here, but Kongsberg has decide to CLOSE another plant. This one is in Sweden, again. Wonder if they’re moving those operations to the new Polish plant or somewhere with even fewer environmental laws and lower taxes. But hey, don’t take my word for it, take a read of ABN:
Kongsberg, Norway, April 23, 2008 - Kongsberg Power Products Systems AS, which is a subsidiary of Kongsberg Automotive Holding ASA, has declared it is considering proposals regarding closing the factory in Märsta, Sweden and intends commencing negotiations with the Unions. The factory in Marsta has 54 employees, and the workforce will be informed at meetings today. The facility today produces heavy duty cables, pedals, hand controls, hydraulic valves and electrical components to the Commercial Vehicle and off-highway vehicle market. The potential closure of the factory may lead to a transfer of production in Märsta to existing Kongsberg Automotive locations within Europe. Kongsberg Power Products Systems AB will continue to service its customers through its operations in Ljungsarp, Sweden. The potential closure is due to the company's need for realizing cost savings in order to improve overall competitiveness. "To Kongsberg Automotive, it is decisive that we find ways to optimize our production in order to stay competitive in an ever increasingly competitive global market. The potential transfer of business from Märsta will better align us to market needs and restore profitability for the Division to an acceptable level", says President for Power Products Systems, Jim Ryan.
I want you to take a look at the emphasized text. I bolded it for one reason, this is the theme for Kongsberg.
Closure of plants despite profitability in hopes for greater profitability down the road. Basically, it’s Greed for Greed sake.
So, I look to the locked out workers in Van Wert and I have to say, I’m not sure why I’d ever take a reduction in income to work for a company that treats it’s works like they’re disposable.
The profitability of any company is based on the production and frequently also the quality of work that is done on that company’s behalf. Well, all except Wal-Mart who seems to think they can do anything without recourse, but I digress.
Kongsberg Automotive seems to be of the mind that being profitable isn’t enough, they must better align to market needs so as to bring each Division up to their acceptable level for profitability. I wonder what that level is? And why it is that the people who helped to make the company profitable in the first place are the people reduced to nothing in the hunt for greater profits down the road, somewhere else.
Kongsberg Automotive seems hell bent on adding to their history of greed.
This is actually relatively old news, but I felt that it needed more exposure. From the United Farm Workers:
Yesterday more than 100 migrant farm workers were living in an orchard. Tonight they have no place to go.
Why, you ask? These Washington state cherry pickers came to Shafter, California after being told by company representatives to come to Califronia for a job in the cherries. Consequently workers and their families traveled from Washington State to work at the Kyle Mathison Orchards. Kyle Mathison is part of the Wenatchee, Washington based Stemilt Growers Company—which, according to its web site, is the largest shipper of fresh-market sweet cherries in the world.
When these farm workers reached California, things were not as expected. A number of the workers were hired, but other workers were told to just wait and see if jobs were available. According to KERO 23 news, a farm worker said, "I came from Washington state. We came here to work, but they haven't treated us like they should and we're a little worried because we may not have enough money to go back to Washington."
While in Washington, some of the workers were informed that housing would be available to them when they got to California. However, when they got here there was no housing. They had no choice but to sleep in the fields. Some stayed in tents, others in cars and still others slept on cardboard or simply the dirt.
Workers complained of rashes from having to bathe in irrigation water. The KERO 23 news report quoted another worker as saying, "I asked where do we shower? And he said 'There's the water hole.' ... and there's ducks and fish! I asked, 'We shower there?! Where do the women shower?!' He said the same place."
When workers went public about being left out in the cold, things only got worse. Last night Bakersfield area television stations showed the workers’ bleak situation. Today, Stemilt company representatives' called the sheriffs to have the 100 plus workers and their property evicted from the orchard.
The workers who are currently working were told they would still be allowed on Monday—however they now have no place to live. The others have no place to live and no job—the company told them to still wait and see.
Stemilt says their core values include treating workers, growers and customers fairly. How is this fair?
Take action now. Tell Stemilt to provide housing for these out of state workers tonight, pay reasonable travel expenses and immediately hire the rest of the Washington workers instead of forcing them to wait and see.
What I get is that these people picked up and moved on the promise of a job, but it looks as if the farm may have done too good of a job of getting the word out on their need for workers. So, now there are too many workers, not enough housing, no sanitary areas for bathing, etc... At the point they discovered too many workers, why didn't the farm contact other farms and see if they could place workers somewhere else? Aren't there any agreements between farms for this sort of thing? How is it even possible for workers to be left to sleep in fields?
There’s an election going on right now. I doubt any of us can escape it right now. But it’s gotten me thinking about what we do from here on out in terms of reaching out to brothers and sisters in the movement to not only tell them about their benefits (um, you have many that you aren’t using from travel to dental, they’re your benefits, use them) to how to make sure that we have both a Democrat in the White House and a solid majority in the Senate and House.
So, as I’m thinking about this, I ran across an AFL-CIO story on Diane Hansen:
“When we started the political action committee a few years ago, I'd like to say that I felt about it the way I do now—that I'm doing it because I want to give something back to the union and community—but I didn't come to that realization until I'd be involved and saw how important it was,” she says.
Hansen, 42, became involved in political action in a 2002 county supervisor campaign and by the time 2004 elections rolled around, she had learned some of the nuts and bolts of political mobilizing.
“We had three main goals: implementing a voter registration program, enacting and following the AFL-CIO's 10 Point Political Action Plan and plugging into AFL-CIO GOTV [Get Out The Vote] program,” she says
Hansen, who continued her full-time job throughout the campaign, spent an additional 30 hours a week leafleting worksites, recruiting members for phone banks and taking part in door-to-door walks to talk with union members about issues critical to working families.
>snip<
Hanson says her experience demonstrated how one-on-one communication with members is “one of the most effective means of communication” and “should be the cornerstone in all campaigns.” She credits the work of all the unions working together with the unprecedented member mobilization in the 2004 elections.
“Union teamwork produced solidarity. I don't think we'd ever seen such a strong coming together of unions for a common cause,” she says.
And what this little story about activism inspired in me was the concept that we need to not only work on membership but we also have to bring everyone else along in our fight for worker’s rights. And this of course, reminded me of the McCain Revealed campaign which succinctly breaks down why American Workers and Unions can’t afford 4 more years of this hell.
Sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves that 4 more years of this just isn’t acceptable. I know it hasn’t worked for me, and I’d be willing to guess it hasn’t for most of you.
So, I’m willing to do this year what Diane Hansen has done, I’m getting more active. Way, way more active. I don’t want to look back a year from now and regret not wearing out a pair of shoes canvassing. I want to know that we’ve put the right person into the White House, and in no way, shape, or form is that person John McCain.
You'll notice a new icon on the left of the screen. It's for The DC Metro Council's Labor Film Fest this Fall. If you click the image, it will take you to the page and you can see for yourself, the amazing movies that will be shown at AFI in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Here's the announcement from this morning's Metro Labor Council:
LABOR FILMFEST SET FOR OCTOBER: The 8th annual DC Labor FilmFest will be held from October 9-12, organizers report. The FilmFest, one of the only labor-themed film festivals in the world, screens films from around the world celebrating the struggle for social justice. Click here for details; ad space is available in the popular Festival Guide, which is distributed to all FilmFest-goers and supports the FilmFest, which is now coordinating a year-round program of free screenings. The free screenings have already drawn hundreds for nine screenings of seven films this year, including At The River I Stand, A. Philip Randolph: For Jobs and Freedom, Mother Jones: America's Most Dangerous Woman, Fired!, Women Organize!, Sicko, and Grassroots Rising! with a full schedule set for May and June at the AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Labor College. “With our new year-round calendar and expanded line-up of activities, your support is more important than ever to ensuring the Labor FilmFest's existence and growth,” says FilmFest Co-Chair Jos Williams.
And Thanks go out to Andy Richards for helping me with the widget coding for the image. You totally rock Andy!!
I didn’t receive flowers this year and when I send, I go directly to florists in those areas (mostly small towns in Ohio when I so send flowers). I don’t want to worry that I’m helping to perpetuate this sort of thing:
SEXUAL HARASSMENT A 2005 study by ILRF and Ecuadorian NGO partners [in RFWW folder Ecuador] found that over 55% of Ecuadorian flower workers have been the victims of sexual harassment. Many women said that they had been asked out by their bosses or supervisors, who offered to improve their jobs in exchange. Alarmingly, we also learned that 19% of flower workers had been forced to have sex with a coworker or superior and 10% had been sexually attacked.
FORCED PREGNANCY TESTING About 65% of Colombian flower workers and 50% of Ecuadorian flower workers are women. They are commonly required to take a pregnancy test or show proof of sterilization as a condition for hiring, as employers hope to avoid providing paid maternity leave.
CHILD LABOR While child labor has been successfully eradicated in Colombian flower plantations in recent years, it remains a serious problem in Ecuador. Pesticide exposure affects children more severely than adults. The ILO estimates that 20% of the 60,000 Ecuadorian flower workers are children.
But, don’t worry, you can actually buy fair trade certified flowers, they are out there. In fact, there’s a site dedicated to these beautiful flowers which are made even more beautiful by simply knowing that the workers weren’t abused, harassed or seriously exposed to pesticides
I hope that if you received flowers this weekend for Mother’s Day that you can be even happier knowing that a mother in another country did a great job in providing those beautiful flowers to you. It seems to make the receipt just that much sweeter.
I wandered over to Unbossed again and found something interesting, a listing of their previous reports on the Mine disaster and a bunch of linky goodness to a number of other resources as well.
