We invite you to contribute short items to this column as a way for other fighting workers around the world to read about and learn from these important struggles. Jot down a few lines about what is happening in your union, at your workplace, or other workplaces in your area, including interesting political discussions.
CICERO, Illinois - On July 1, some 150 workers from Lenc- Smith, located in this suburb of Chicago, went on strike. We are members of International Union of Electronic Workers (IUE) Local 1199. We make pinball and video game machines.
Three years ago we accepted a pay cut. The company then said we would get the money back. But this year the company demanded another pay cut. Many jobs would pay only $6.25 per hour. For example, Rosa Patrocinia, a striker with 27 years in the plant, would go from $8.98 to $6.25. We refuse to let our workers with the most seniority suffer.
The company has not been negotiating in good faith and they want to break the union. Other demands deal with the language in the contract and job security.
Our picket lines are strong and we intend to fight this company to the end.
We have had a lot of support from different organizations and unions. We have had several rallies in which AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Democratic candidate for governor of Illinois Glenn Poshard, and Ed Fire, president of our union participated.
We were invited by IUE District 11 Secretary-Treasurer Jaime Martínez to participate in "the people's march" October 12 - an immigrant's rights march in Chicago sponsored by Coordinadora '96-2000. About 50 of us went, both Latino and Black workers. One of the Black strikers, Vernon, said at the march that most of the workers at Lenc-Smith are immigrants. "If we're going to stay strong, we have to stay united. Joining the immigrant's right march is a way to strengthen the strike at Lenc-Smith."
The union is trying to organize a rally and march for early November.
Toledo store workers fight for justice at Meijer
TOLEDO, Ohio - Once again, members of United Food and
Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 911 are locked in an escalating
struggle for a living wage and affordable health care. About
1,700 Meijer workers have been working without a contract since
September 19. Meijer, a mammoth supermarket/discount department
store expanding throughout the Midwest, is seeking to maintain
its company-wide system of low wages.
Four years ago, Toledo Meijer workers fought a 55-day strike, which forced Meijer back to the bargaining table. The ratified contract lagged way behind the wages and benefits of other UFCW-organized supermarkets in the Toledo area. Now, Meijer workers, by a 90 percent margin, have said no to the Company's "last and final" offer.
The local has distributed a fact sheet on its fight with Meijer. Topping the list of many grievances are the low wages, health-care premiums of up to $61 a week, keeping a layer of workers who work full-time in part-time pay status, and denying basic benefits such as premium pay for midnight shift work.
No more than 20 percent of Meijer workers qualify for a miserly pension. It is no surprise that many Meijer workers are on food stamps and other forms of public assistance.
Meijer has stepped up its harassment of the union. It has threatened union representatives with arrest if they enter the Toledo stores. Workers are constantly bombarded by a company video recording urging them to resign from the union. Surveillance cameras installed in break rooms constantly monitor workers to enforce a ban on union discussions and activities. Vance Security thugs have been hired to harass and intimidate union workers.
A graphic example of company arrogance is reflected in a letter being circulated by the union. The letter is signed by Pam Roberts, and co-signed by about 60 of her co-workers. It reads, "On Friday, October 2nd, 1998, at 3:00 p.m., several Meijer employees, including myself, attended a meeting at Meijer 116 in the store's Team Center. Betty Bethel of Meijer Labor Relations Board led the meeting and very bluntly informed us that being employed by Meijer should only be used as a stepping stone for something better. She said that the jobs at Meijer were not meant to be careers for people, unless they planned to pursue management, and, therefore, the people who hold these jobs obviously should not expect to be paid enough to support families with.
"She went on to say that if we desire jobs with wages suitable for supporting our families, we should go back to school and try to better ourselves, or simply find other jobs. Betty then proceeded to tell us that she loves us. I told her that she does not love us, since she did not know any of us. I also pointed out to her that she had just insulted all of us, and called us ignorant and uneducated. My statement she did not deny."
On October 12, more than 200 people turned out for a solidarity rally at the UFCW union hall. Meijer workers cheered as union representatives throughout northwest Ohio, came to express their support for the Meijer workers' struggle for a living wage and decent benefits. A steering committee of labor unions and community leaders was formed at the rally to organize informational picketing at the four stores.
The first demonstration was held at the Alexis Road store on October 17. Hundreds of unionists and supporters gathered at the store's parking lot entrances with picket signs calling for a living wage. Afterwards, a spirited rally was held at the nearby parking lot of the Toledo Speedway. The next solidarity action is planned for November 8 at the Woodville Road store.
Flight attendants rally for contract at Northwest
ST. PAUL, Minnesota - More than 150 fight attendants and
their supporters participated in a noon rally at the steps of
the Minnesota Capitol Building October 29 as part of nationwide
rallies demanding a better contract.
Northwest workers in other unions were there, including pilots who recently won a strike against Northwest and several ramp workers. A couple of members of the International Association of Machinists were there during their lunch break. "I am here because we need to show support for the other unions at Northwest," said Tracie Radermacher, a ramp crew member.
Among the other unions represented were the United Food and Commercial Workers and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
"We can win a better contract because we are all very united," said Giovanna Ingram, a flight attendant with 10 years on the job. "Myself and others will go out on strike if we have to get one."
Grace Herrada, a member of IUE Local 1199 on strike at Lenc- Smith in Cicero; Alan Epstein, a member of the United Auto Workers in Toledo and Frank Gorton, a UAW member in Detroit; and Javier Aravena, member of the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers in St. Paul contributed to this column.