COMMERCE, Calif. — “The rents went up, the groceries went up and they don’t see that. They say that with the money they give us we can survive, but we can’t,” said Arturo Morales on the strike picket line at Monogram Aerospace Fasteners here Aug. 14. “I don’t think that’s fair. Ever since the strike we’ve been more together.”
The monthlong strike by nearly 300 United Auto Workers Local 509 members halted production of airplane parts for Boeing and Airbus. Workers are fighting for a three-year contract, a wage increase of more than the 2% offered by the bosses, and against increased health care premiums, which already take a significant portion of their pay.
Workers also carry signs saying “No to Article 21!” “This article gives the company total control to organize and change labor grades whenever they want,” Eusebio Sosa, who has worked at Monogram for 12 years, told the Militant. The bosses recently changed or eliminated job descriptions and cut workers’ pay. “We just want our fair share and they just want to give us lower wages.”
The strike is solid with spirited picketing. Lots of workers come by bringing solidarity and contributions of food.
“We are asking for free medical, dental and vision, and for modifying or removing Article 21,” machine operator Jorge Almeida said. “It’s not fair the company makes millions of dollars, and we earn very little of what they make.”