From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Blue Diamond Almonds Unionizing Under ILWU in Sacramento
The ILWU and Blue Diamond workers held a rally at 17th and C in Sacramento to present their demand to management for their right to unionize. Here is a story and some pictures
ILWU ORGANIZING BLUE DIAMOND ALMOND FACTORY WORKERS IN SACRAMENTO
There was a rally at Blue Diamond Almonds in Sacramento on 17th and C Streets Friday afternoon where around 100 workers in addition to organizers and community members tried to present a petition to management demanding their right to unionize. Blue Diamond workers have attempted to union several times in the past, both under the ILWU and the Teamsters, but every time, were brutally crushed by the management’s harsh anti-union stance and campaign.
The workers are demanding, above all, respect from management, who refuse to treat the workers with dignity and pay poverty level wages. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has committed to organizing the shop of about 1000 seasonal workers, who are laid off every year and then re-hired the next almond season. Blue Diamond Growers is the largest tree nut processing and marketing company in the world, and a year ago, was named the #2 biggest polluter in the Sacramento Area by the Sacramento News and Review (see: http://www.newsreview.com/issues/sacto/2004-04-22/cover.asp)
One spectacular sight at the rally happened as a shift got off work, dozens of workers came out, removed their blue work shirts - revealing their yellow ILWU union shirts. They then proceeded to pick up signs and join the picket. It was a sight you would expect to see from an AFL/CIO promotional video.
Blue Diamond can absolutely afford to pay their workers both respect and a decent wage, and as we can see, the ILWU will make sure that they do.
Thank you to everyone who came out to picket and to show support for the struggling Blue Diamond Factory Workers in Sacramento.
There was a rally at Blue Diamond Almonds in Sacramento on 17th and C Streets Friday afternoon where around 100 workers in addition to organizers and community members tried to present a petition to management demanding their right to unionize. Blue Diamond workers have attempted to union several times in the past, both under the ILWU and the Teamsters, but every time, were brutally crushed by the management’s harsh anti-union stance and campaign.
The workers are demanding, above all, respect from management, who refuse to treat the workers with dignity and pay poverty level wages. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has committed to organizing the shop of about 1000 seasonal workers, who are laid off every year and then re-hired the next almond season. Blue Diamond Growers is the largest tree nut processing and marketing company in the world, and a year ago, was named the #2 biggest polluter in the Sacramento Area by the Sacramento News and Review (see: http://www.newsreview.com/issues/sacto/2004-04-22/cover.asp)
One spectacular sight at the rally happened as a shift got off work, dozens of workers came out, removed their blue work shirts - revealing their yellow ILWU union shirts. They then proceeded to pick up signs and join the picket. It was a sight you would expect to see from an AFL/CIO promotional video.
Blue Diamond can absolutely afford to pay their workers both respect and a decent wage, and as we can see, the ILWU will make sure that they do.
Thank you to everyone who came out to picket and to show support for the struggling Blue Diamond Factory Workers in Sacramento.
Add Your Comments
Latest Comments
Listed below are the latest comments about this post.
These comments are submitted anonymously by website visitors.
TITLE
AUTHOR
DATE
Get A Life
Tue, Apr 26, 2005 10:04AM
nice pics
Mon, Apr 25, 2005 12:09PM
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network