BY AL DUNCAN
VERNON, California--Several hundred workers on strike against Hollander Home Fashions along with union supporters rallied and marched between the company's two plants here April 19, the 43rd day of the walkout.
"It's good when we get together and when other people come out to support us," said Hugo Gaona, 25, who has worked as a machine operator at Hollander for four years. At the time of the strike Gaona was paid $6.75 an hour. The workers are members of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE). Hollander Home Fashions is a producer of sheets, comforters, and pillows.
"I'm one of the youngest here and I will never cross the line to go back in," Gaona said. "We are fighting so that new people coming to work here will have what we have when they start out."
Another striker, Benny Chanler, 30, who has worked for four years in the Hollander shipping department, said, "It was good so many people came out to support us and let us know that they are on our side in what we are fighting for."
Asked about how strong the strike is, Chanler said, "The company has got some of the union people to cross the line and has bused in some folks. But the people who make the comforters and the pillows are still out and they can't do anything without them. They used to ship out at least 15 truckloads of products a day; now they get out no more than two or three. We are still strong and having an impact on the company."
Cristina Vazquez, a UNITE international vice president, told the strikers, "The pressure is increasing on the company. The contract of the 175 workers at Hollander's plant in Frackville, Pennsylvania, expires April 30 and will soon be on strike if the company doesn't give in to their demand for a new contract that includes a pension." The demand for a pension plan is one of the central issues in this contract fight by the 450 workers here.
Joining the rally were representatives from the Amalgamated Transit Union, whose bus mechanics were recently on strike against the city; members of the Operating Engineers union; a speaker from the Service Employees International Union; a representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; and a representative of the International Association of Machinists.
Later that evening four strikers and a union organizer from UNITE attended a meeting entitled, "The 40th Anniversary of Cuba's Victory at the Bay of Pigs: the Living Legacy." A featured speaker was Sergio Martínez, first secretary of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C. The 160 people present gave a warm response to the strikers.
"We have been on strike for more than 40 days," Ramón Higuera told the audience. "We haven't been able to negotiate a contract. Hollander owns two factories in Los Angeles, and factories in Georgia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Florida. They use the money we make for them to fight us. We want a pension plan and we want an end to humiliation on the job. This is a fight about respect. We want to be treated like people, not animals. We are confident we can win," he said. "Today we'd like your help. Tomorrow you may need help and we can help you. United we can win."
Wendy Lyons, a garment worker, contributed to this article.