Vol. 80/No. 10 March 14, 2016
California Cartage workers rally for better conditions
The petition titled, “Respect and transparency for all warehouse workers!” demanded the company and staffing agency it uses assign work schedules based on seniority, not favoritism, end penalizing workers for using sick days, provide workers with steel-toed shoes, and end retaliation and intimidation against workers “for pushing for improvements on the job.”
“We’re beginning to accomplish things,” warehouse worker Steve Hatch told the Militant. “The company is making improvements in their buildings and break areas. We’ve established the right to take heat breaks when temperatures in the trailers get too high.” The company in January agreed to provide safety boots.
Some workers were angry about “the company’s revolving-door policy,” as Hatch put it. John White, who has worked there for over a year, said California Cartage “steadily hires new people every day while telling employees there’s no work.”
Charles Grose grabbed a leaflet on his way into work. Asked what he thought of the organizing drive, he said, “I’m down with it. I’ll talk with others and stand up and fight for our rights.”
Arthur Angerer, 20, who has worked at California Cartage for seven months, was passing out leaflets to those going to and from work. When workers at the rally learned that Angerer hasn’t been called to work all week, they organized to meet outside the staffing agency the next morning to demand he be given work, which he was. A similar effort in November won Maurice Williams’ job back.
Last October Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa joined a picket line at California Cartage and announced a partnership with the Warehouse Worker Resource Center. “Hoffa came here and dressed down the company,” Hatch said. “To have that kind of support from a major union is invaluable.”
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Anti-labor outfit targets ATI workers and their union
On the Picket Line
Fight against frame-up of rail workers wins support
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