The Militant - July 28, 2003 -- Meat packers strike at Hunts Point, New York, to unionize plant

Vol. 67/No. 25 July 28, 2003

Meat packers strike
at Hunts Point, New York,
to unionize plant
(front page)

BY DEAN HAZLEWOOD
BRONX, New York—Over 20 workers at Garden Manor Farm, a packing house at the Hunts Point Market here, went on strike July 3. They set up a picket line among the trees and benches opposite the loading dock. They walked out to press their demand that the boss stop delaying and agree to a date for a union certification election. The workers overwhelmingly back representation by the United Food and Commercial Workers.

UFCW representative Johnny López said the company told workers to sign up with the office workers’ union or be fired.

Workers from several unionized plants at the market have visited the line to offer their solidarity. “We need benefits. We have children,” said Fili Villa, who has worked at Garden Manor for more than four years. “We have no benefits, no sick pay,” stated Felipe Vega, who has been at the plant over three years. “And they mistreat us.”

On the first day of the walkout, López was arrested, charged by the police with disorderly conduct, and then released. Meanwhile, the bosses are running the plant with labor hired from a temporary agency.

Dean Hazlewood is a member of UFCW Local 342 and works at Hunts Point.

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