Marquez workers to continue fight for Teamsters

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anti-union bosses at the Marquez Brothers cheese facility in Hanford, Calif., have thrown everything at their Teamster workers in an effort to crack their resolve. But employees there are not backing down.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Though the unscrupulous employer recently decided against recognizing the union, </span><a href="http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/marquez-union-supporters-press-on-despite-setbacks/article_2247ffe6-1fb0-11e3-a9ef-0019bb2963f4.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">workers on Oct. 4 will vote</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to continue their fight for fair wages and safe working conditions. The company has not bargained in good faith since workers decided to join the union in August 2012, and talks have stalled. Marquez went so far as to </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/marquez-brothers-now-stalling-in.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">spread lies that Teamsters were going to call a strike</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, even though such an action is up to the workers themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Most workers make $9 an hour at the plant. The union’s bargaining unit initial sought $12 hour, but later lowered it to $11.50. The company, however, never budged beyond $9.10.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If sabotaging negotiations wasn’t bad enough, Marquez went further. </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/04/employers-brutal-union-busting-tactics.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They hired an expensive union-busting law firm to tail a worker who testified</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> at a legislative hearing in Sacramento back in March. Although lawmakers called out the company and attorneys for their actions, the worker – a mother of four – was later fired.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Partly because of that case, </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/09/teamsters-tout-approval-of-worker-intimidation-bills.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">state legislation was enacted earlier this month</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> that bars employers from intimidating immigrant workers for reporting illegal pay or working conditions by threatening to call immigration officials.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Marquez workers said they are ready to continue their fight. Cheese weigher Juan Cruz said:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we win, we’ll be sending a very strong message to the owners.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teamster strong!<o:p></o:p></span><br />

Marquez Brothers Teamsters union worker intimidation Marquez workers to continue fight for Teamsters

Anti-union bosses at the Marquez Brothers cheese facility in Hanford, Calif., have thrown everything at their Teamster workers in an effort to crack their resolve. But employees there are not backing down. Though the unscrupulous employer recently …

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Wisconsin's solidarity singers arrested today

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0Nf5VzN1MKg" width="420"></iframe><br />Wisconsin police just arrested 22 people today for singing "Solidarity Forever" in the Statehouse. The singers have been musically protesting <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/scott-walker-still-kills-jobs-better.html" rel="nofollow"><strike>Job-killer</strike></a> Gov. Scott Walker every weekday since March 11, 2011 -- ever since he rammed an <a href="http://alecexposed.org/">ALEC</a> bill through the Legislature to destroy public service unions. The Solidarity Sing Along happens every weekday from noon to 1 pm in the Capitol Rotunda. Dozens of union supporters stand in a circle and sing pro-union songs like, well, "Solidarity Forever."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTf7U0hZy7GMoI8_-QLnbqRHHTkDRcPQ7_ShvEujsNXxpffFU1Q3K_b_2zPRlOpD40h9w2MXZhWfIrHjQwF9cMYHhXH1uMuC9ihehQkdGyMShHc-IdFFYPle-MqGAp6iUM0u9xhgvABkU/s1600/wisconsin_80_yr_old_arrested.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTf7U0hZy7GMoI8_-QLnbqRHHTkDRcPQ7_ShvEujsNXxpffFU1Q3K_b_2zPRlOpD40h9w2MXZhWfIrHjQwF9cMYHhXH1uMuC9ihehQkdGyMShHc-IdFFYPle-MqGAp6iUM0u9xhgvABkU/s200/wisconsin_80_yr_old_arrested.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div>Among those arrested today was an 80-year-old woman.<br /><br /><a href="http://news.wpr.org/post/protest-singers-arrested-state-capitol">Wisconsin Public Radio</a> tells us:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Capitol Police have been threatening arrests this month, after U.S. District Judge William Conley blocked the Walker Administration from requiring permits for gatherings at the Capitol involving 20 people or fewer, but did not block a requirement that larger groups obtain permits... </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">25 citations were issued today to 22 people for demonstrating without a permit. Three people received a second citation after rejoining the singers after their first citation. The fine amount for a no-permit citation is $200.50. Marquis says one individual received a disorderly conduct citation for spitting on a singer/protestor.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4K3GfgBl11Q4Y3D45f9I1RSyAWdOwGT7iyFBuhEKmywlb_LRuRSyw03_w_p3HtaLKkEXPngxG6nbUEzNWzNGLdKQDzbztNzu8MKz_37HtLUqkWFQHfaURofJfBpRBqmQnTXsrWrz5hyphenhyphenU4/s1600/wisconsin_singers_arrested.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4K3GfgBl11Q4Y3D45f9I1RSyAWdOwGT7iyFBuhEKmywlb_LRuRSyw03_w_p3HtaLKkEXPngxG6nbUEzNWzNGLdKQDzbztNzu8MKz_37HtLUqkWFQHfaURofJfBpRBqmQnTXsrWrz5hyphenhyphenU4/s320/wisconsin_singers_arrested.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Solidarity Singers clearly drive Walker batshit crazy. He's been trying to shut them down for months, along with myriad other crackdowns on freedoms of speech, assembly and right to petition one's government for a redress of grievances. <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/04/12/1201368/-One-Day-Longer-25-Months-Stronger-the-Solidarity-Sing-Along-Draws-Hope-From-the-Next-Generation">Wisconsin Wherls</a> blogged about Walker's attempt to silence the singers in April. (The post also describes how Teamster and Wisconsin state Sen. Dave Hansen brought 100 schoolchildren to listen to the singing.)<br /><br />We turn to our friend, blogger <a href="http://www.bluecheddar.net/?p=30581">blue cheddar</a>, for some perspective on these persistent protesters:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">I stand by the Solidarity Sing Along (SSA). I do not think the Solidarity Sing Along is detrimental to “our movement”. It is in fact the movement’s most persistent element – the pilot light that you should keep afire. It began on March 11, 2011 as an extension of the occupation and has persisted through the courage of individual Wisconsinites who had to figure everything out on their own and under pressure. It lives in defiance of an autocratic administration that tries to eradicate it. Nobody has allowed it to die out of neglect, “civility”, infighting, or excuse-making. It is free and yet held tightly in common. It is amazing.</blockquote>

scott walker union wisconsin Wisconsin's solidarity singers arrested today

Wisconsin police just arrested 22 people today for singing "Solidarity Forever" in the Statehouse. The singers have been musically protesting Job-killer Gov. Scott Walker every weekday since March 11, 2011 -- ever since he rammed an ALEC bill through…

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Workers really, really want unions now more than ever

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LqyRvctUBVEvg133PAsTI5pdsmEmt56fpyQ5j40sWDf4FBcIDVwfS3_H0b61Hvoj0jDHHKhwuKlKIO5M5DAvXY_C9EHtEnvatgsg-jmUmeKQsgxqxg3lrjIB23wZQHApk7BkV1cBXsQR/s1600/godblessunions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LqyRvctUBVEvg133PAsTI5pdsmEmt56fpyQ5j40sWDf4FBcIDVwfS3_H0b61Hvoj0jDHHKhwuKlKIO5M5DAvXY_C9EHtEnvatgsg-jmUmeKQsgxqxg3lrjIB23wZQHApk7BkV1cBXsQR/s200/godblessunions.jpg" width="200" /></a>To give you an idea of just how badly workers want to form a union, we turned to the Teamsters Organizing department. They are <i>deluged</i> with requests for help. Here's a sample from taken from two days of communications from workers who want to organize. All comments are anonymous, of course, because companies will fire workers who breathe the word "union."<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...we really need a union. i  have seen mistreatment with some employees and we work extremely hard, and dont need to take mistreatment from upper managment.  i have a co worker who has worked there for 14 years and just got a 2.5 percent raise after all those years of service. much more than that but we need a union and some organization.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">I feel a strong majority of the employees would be happy to unionize. I have seen many examples of both corruption and mistreatment of employees.<br /> <br />We are under paid - no benefits - no paid holidays - we need a union to represent our situation... </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Warehouse/ Drivers are tired of being over worked an unable to get needed time off for quote no one to cover...<br /> <br />The company is being ran backwards and workers rights are being stomped all over. Pretty sure a vote would go over on first ballot the way people are treated.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">...an employee will be due in to work at 7:00 am and sometimes won't get off work until 10:00 pm or midnight. The very next day will be due back in at 7:00 am. There are more issues than this but I think over working someone who drives a truck that size is wrong... </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">...enough is enough my friends and I deserve to make a decent wage that is why I am asking for the union membership...</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">...and we desperately need union representation...</blockquote><br />

organizing union Workers really, really want unions now more than ever

To give you an idea of just how badly workers want to form a union, we turned to the Teamsters Organizing department. They are deluged with requests for help. Here's a sample from taken from two days of communications from workers who want to organiz…

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Retiring Yankee great pays homage to ordinary workers

<span class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1KBjDsqLIjf4IELRKMqyxwoS7DEH5hRk8SY66IC1P68F9PE1qW_UqHUJu3kDMmqbIeOmEh9X129sgCOtiKzwZLzOZ2K0A8ygWQ7YsFIOh_giJ3F0RKCXNaq0EIKi5z9zCCNTm9jQsvW_/s1600/Mariano_Rivera_allison_7_29_07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1KBjDsqLIjf4IELRKMqyxwoS7DEH5hRk8SY66IC1P68F9PE1qW_UqHUJu3kDMmqbIeOmEh9X129sgCOtiKzwZLzOZ2K0A8ygWQ7YsFIOh_giJ3F0RKCXNaq0EIKi5z9zCCNTm9jQsvW_/s200/Mariano_Rivera_allison_7_29_07.jpg" width="200" /></a></span>Yankee reliever <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariano_Rivera">Mariano Rivera</a>, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, is making a farewell tour of the working-class people who make the game what it is.<br /><br />As much as you love to hate the Yankees, you've got to just love Rivera. And as much as you may love to hate the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/sports/baseball/yankees-rivera-spends-his-goodbye-tour-saying-hello.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Findex.jsonp">New York Times</a>, you've got to love this story about Rivera.<br /><br />David Waldstein describes how he said goodbye at Citi Field in Minneapolis:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...there was no owner in the lavish suite. Across from Rivera, in a semicircle of 15 chairs, sat a group including a security guard, a grounds crew worker, an organist, an usher and a season-ticket holder, all brought in to be in the presence of Rivera, the Yankees’ closer...</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">After <a href="http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/09/at-43-yankees-rivera-confirms-that-hell-retire-in-fall/">announcing in spring training that he would retire</a> at the end of this season, his 19th with the Yankees, the 43-year-old Rivera has embarked on an unusual tour of American League cities, meeting with ordinary, behind-the-scenes workers and some fans, who drive the machinery of baseball.</blockquote>Here's why he's doing it:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">...he wanted to express appreciation for the many people in baseball who were not highly paid players, and to learn more about their lives and work. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">“I just want to say thank you,” Rivera said in an interview last week. “I’ve been so blessed to be able to play this game, but we wouldn’t be able to do it without the help and support of all these people behind the scenes. They make baseball work as much as we do.” </blockquote>What a concept.<br /><br />Read the whole thing <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/sports/baseball/yankees-rivera-spends-his-goodbye-tour-saying-hello.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fsports%2Fbaseball%2Findex.jsonp">here</a>. <br /><br />

baseball union Retiring Yankee great pays homage to ordinary workers

Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, is making a farewell tour of the working-class people who make the game what it is.As much as you love to hate the Yankees, you've got to just love Rivera. And as much …

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