Chicano students help Blue Diamond Workers
Chicano Students rally to almond workers’ cause
The nation’s largest Chicano student group brought some 400 students protestors on March 21,2008. to the Sacramento plant in support of the Blue Diamond workers’ long fight to join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).
Since its founding in 1969, Mecha, the Chicano student organization, has supported workers’ organizing as an essential part of its program of community empowerment.
More than one-third of the workers at Blue Diamond’s Sacramento plant—the largest almond processing plant in the world—are Latino/a. After the workers began organizing in September 2004, the company mounted an aggressive anti-union campaign that landed it in trouble with the law. The National Labor Relations Board found Blue Diamond guilty of 20 labor law violations, but the company refused to admit wrongdoing. The workers have been building support in Sacramento, around the country and around the world for their right to decide for themselves whether or not they want a union in an atmosphere free of firings, threats and harassment.
Like the UFW in the 60’s, the Blue Diamond workers joining the ILWU know they cannot stand up to the company alone. Mecha ( Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan) helped to build a web of solidarity actions from Sacramento around the nation and the world.
For more information: Marcy Rein, ILWU Organizing Dept., 510-847-4443
Filed under: Immigrant Workers, Strikes and work action, Youth | Tagged: ILWU, MEChA, Organizing, Strikes and organizing, Student Labor Action Week, Youth
Hi Duane,
I was cruising around and got a Google alert that you’d posted our release on the Blue Diamond action on Staurday. Thanks! I hope you’re doing well. I finished the project with AFSCME for the UC workers almost 2 years ago, and have been working here at the ILWU as COmmunications Director. The big longshore contract is up for 25,000 workers on the west coast and I’m keeping busy…enjoying it too! Hang in there are keep up the good work. Glad you’re still teaching and giving those kids an education. My office is 415-775-0533, ext 113, and my cell is 510-774-5325 if you ever need to reach me.
Best regards,
Craig Merrilees
(in NAM with you a long-long time ago!)