I've never understood the attitude of many Americans toward unions.
It seems a natural conclusion that there is power in numbers. It goes
to show the power of Propaganda by the Ruling Class.
And similarly, why do so many Americans buy into this notion that it
is a top heavy government that keeps them from becoming affluent. If
the members of the Ruling Class were as fair minded as they would have
us believe, there would be no need for laws to be set in place to
protect...to some degree, the American People. Donald Trump should be
proof enough regarding what happens when our laws are either
disregarded, set aside, or altered in order to allow Corporate Raiders
to pilfer our public funds.
Carl Jarvis
On 7/2/17, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
http://themilitant.com/2017/8125/812506.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 81/No. 25 July 10, 2017
(front page)
Berry workers in Washington win contract,
raise, respect
BY CLAY DENNISON
BURLINGTON, Wash. — In a historic gain for farmworkers in Washington —
the 11th largest agricultural producing state in the U.S. — berry
pickers in the Skagit Valley here ratified the first contract between
their union, Familias Unidas por la Justicia, and Sakuma Brothers Farms
June 15. The two-year pact is the only union contract for farmworkers in
western Washington.
The workers won a significant pay increase. “Thanks to the support we
have won, we now have wages based on $15 an hour, more than any other
farmworkers in the state,” Ramón Torres, president of the union, told
the Militant. “In the contract we have ways to defend any worker who is
fired unjustly. Our most important next step is to defend the contract.
¡Si se puede!”
“On Monday people went in to work. They said they didn’t have to work as
hard to get paid $15 an hour,” Alfredo Juarez, 17, one of the youngest
activists and leaders in the union, told the Militant. “So it’s a bit
more relaxed now.”
In addition to the pay raise, the union won the right to represent all
the pickers on the farm; seniority in layoffs and recalls; and for
workers to have union representatives in the fields and at disciplinary
proceedings.
In the first week since the contract was signed, Juarez said field
bosses have been less abusive. “They don’t say much about you going to
the bathroom or taking time to drink water, they used to be real hard on
that. I haven’t heard any complaint about supervisors talking bad to
workers.”
The bosses agreed to set up a grievance and arbitration system, and
negotiations are continuing on a retirement plan.
The victory came almost four years after pickers first struck over
abusive conditions. They formed Familias Unidas, based on a workforce
largely composed of indigenous Mixteca and Triqui people from southern
Mexico. For more than three years workers struck, marched, and won
growing support in the labor movement and the community. The group
reorganized as a union and finally won a representation election in
September 2016.
Related articles:
On the Picket Line
Miners, rail workers in Ukraine fight gov’t, boss attacks
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