Though the unscrupulous employer recently decided against
recognizing the union, workers on Oct. 4 will vote 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 spread
lies that Teamsters were going to call a strike, even though such an action
is up to the workers themselves.
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.
If sabotaging negotiations wasn’t bad enough, Marquez went
further. They
hired an expensive union-busting law firm to tail a worker who testified 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.
Partly because of that case, state
legislation was enacted earlier this month that bars employers from
intimidating immigrant workers for reporting illegal pay or working conditions
by threatening to call immigration officials.
Marquez workers said they are ready to continue their fight.
Cheese weigher Juan Cruz said:
If we win, we’ll be sending a very strong message to the owners.