Solidarity Holiday
September 20, 2011
On September 20th, FLOC members shut down the entire fresh market tomato packing industry in Northern Ohio in solidarity with Ohio's public service workers and "No" on issue 2. Almost 200 workers were bussed and caravaned to Toledo Council chambers to stand with AFSCME Local 7 and tell the city council to reject the Mayor of Toledo's proposal to gut city of Toledo workers contract. The Mayor of Toledo has used his proposal to support the union-busting statewide legislation led by anti-union Governor Kasich. To the left and below are photos of the quite packing facilities and of members demonstrating on the packing lines.
80 members of FLOC from a dozen tomato camps participated at the action. They filled the chambers with Local 7 members and other supporters chanting together the people united will never be defeated! The strong support resulted in City Council voting to mandate the City to go back to the negotiating table.
Whether their employer is a private company or a government organization, FLOC understands that attacking working people is never the answer. “Just like farmworkers, public employees need a voice at the table and their concerns must be addressed,” says Beatriz Maya, Secretary Treasurer of FLOC. “Cutting workers’ wages and attacking their rights is never the solution.”
“We support the public workers”, says Maria Garcia, FLOC Vice President. “Farm laborers are some of the most exploited and maltreated workers in the country, but they know that solutions should always include improving people’s working conditions and wages, not tearing them down.”
Below (left) workers at the packing plant wave FLOC flags in solidarity with public employees; (right) Grace Velasquez, 10 year old granddaughter of FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez, helps run the meeting at the packing house and distribute and collect flags with long time FLOC organizer, Sesario Duran.
