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IWW-IU 670/Buyback Contract Negotiations Open With a Bang
BERKELEY, CA - At 1:45 PM on Tuesday June 14, the recycling yard at Community Conservation Centers, Inc., better known as Buyback, grew suddenly silent. The paper line stopped, followed by glass and plastic. The forklifts and trucks pulled into parking spaces, and the roar of their engines died.
Submitted by marctorney on Tue, 06/14/2005 - 18:38.
The workers gathered in the parking lot in front of the office, donning IWW pins and hats. They chanted ¡Sí se puede! and filed into General Manager Jeff Belchamber’s office. FW Jose Alvarez stepped to the front of the group.
“Yo Jeff, we’ve got some things we want to say to you,” Jose said.
Shop steward Randy Addison read the workers’ list of demands: a pay raise, an end to the job classification system that keeps some workers making far less then their fellow workers, more paid holidays (an issue that had resulted in a wildcat strike on MLK Day of this year), an end to the co-payment workers pay to see a doctor, more vacation time, and more opportunity for training and advancement.
As Randy handed Belchambers a petition signed by every single member of the shop, the boss began to argue that the workers were paid enough. The wobblies, like Suzi Castrejon and Jose Padilla, gave him a standing ovation.
Unfortunately, the ovation made it impossible for the workers to hear what the boss had to say.
The workers filed out of the office and held another meeting in the parking lot before going back to work. The paper line began to move, and the glass and plastic began to move as well. The forklifts and trucks began to haul loads again.
Shortly afterwards, contract negotiations began between management, two workers and two IWW organizers.
The workers gathered in the parking lot in front of the office, donning IWW pins and hats. They chanted ¡Sí se puede! and filed into General Manager Jeff Belchamber’s office. FW Jose Alvarez stepped to the front of the group.
“Yo Jeff, we’ve got some things we want to say to you,” Jose said.
Shop steward Randy Addison read the workers’ list of demands: a pay raise, an end to the job classification system that keeps some workers making far less then their fellow workers, more paid holidays (an issue that had resulted in a wildcat strike on MLK Day of this year), an end to the co-payment workers pay to see a doctor, more vacation time, and more opportunity for training and advancement.
As Randy handed Belchambers a petition signed by every single member of the shop, the boss began to argue that the workers were paid enough. The wobblies, like Suzi Castrejon and Jose Padilla, gave him a standing ovation.
Unfortunately, the ovation made it impossible for the workers to hear what the boss had to say.
The workers filed out of the office and held another meeting in the parking lot before going back to work. The paper line began to move, and the glass and plastic began to move as well. The forklifts and trucks began to haul loads again.
Shortly afterwards, contract negotiations began between management, two workers and two IWW organizers.
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Trabajadores unidos en Berkeley para obtenen sus demandas
El pasado Martes 14 de Junio, los trabajadores del recyclaje de Berkeley (Community Conservation Center) y miembros del IU 670 Industrial Workers of the World, se dieron cita en el mismo lugar, Berkeley Recycling Center, para exigir mejores beneficios y salarios. Conllevando esto un Paro Laboral desde las 2:00PM a las 3:00PM.
Comentarios de los trabajadores:
Asucena Castrejon: Ella dice que su suelda no le alcanza. Ya que tiene que pagar renta, babysitter, billes y el sueldo no le alcanza para cubrir semejantes cosas.
Jose Alvarez: Se encuentra en las mismas circumstancias, pero aldo de su companera el tiene que compartir su casa con uno de sus familiares. Para poder pagar la renta, ya que hoy es estos dias la vivienda es un gasto que nos viene quitando un tercio de nuestro sueldo.
Esto es solo por mencionar algos ejemplos entre otros. Y es por eso que la gente trabajadora de Berkeley Recycle Center, no va a bajar la guardia. Y si de ser posible, para poder conseguir dichas demandas, serian capazes de irse a una huelga, al no poder ser escuchados y llegar a un acuerdo.
-Maria Valencia, IU 670
X353064
Workers unite in Berkeley to win their demands
Last Tuesday June 14, the workers of the Berkeley Recycling Center (Community Conservation Center) and members of IU 670 Industrial Workers of the World, held a meeting at their workplace to demand better benefits and salaries. This involved a work stoppage between 2:00PM and 3:00PM.
Comments of the workers:
Asucena Castrejon: She says that her wage does not sustain her. Since she has to pay rent, babysitter, bills, and the salary is not enough to cover these things.
Jose Alvarez: He has found the same circumstances, but unlike his Sister Worker, he has to share his house with one of his relatives to be able to pay the rent, since these days paying the rent is an expense that costs us a third of our salary.
This is only to mention a few examples among many. And that it is why the hard working union members of Berkeley Recycling Center are not going to lower their guard. And if it is to be possible to get what we demand, we are capable of going on strike, if they do not listen to us and arrive at an agreement.
-Maria Valencia, IU 670
X353064
El pasado Martes 14 de Junio, los trabajadores del recyclaje de Berkeley (Community Conservation Center) y miembros del IU 670 Industrial Workers of the World, se dieron cita en el mismo lugar, Berkeley Recycling Center, para exigir mejores beneficios y salarios. Conllevando esto un Paro Laboral desde las 2:00PM a las 3:00PM.
Comentarios de los trabajadores:
Asucena Castrejon: Ella dice que su suelda no le alcanza. Ya que tiene que pagar renta, babysitter, billes y el sueldo no le alcanza para cubrir semejantes cosas.
Jose Alvarez: Se encuentra en las mismas circumstancias, pero aldo de su companera el tiene que compartir su casa con uno de sus familiares. Para poder pagar la renta, ya que hoy es estos dias la vivienda es un gasto que nos viene quitando un tercio de nuestro sueldo.
Esto es solo por mencionar algos ejemplos entre otros. Y es por eso que la gente trabajadora de Berkeley Recycle Center, no va a bajar la guardia. Y si de ser posible, para poder conseguir dichas demandas, serian capazes de irse a una huelga, al no poder ser escuchados y llegar a un acuerdo.
-Maria Valencia, IU 670
X353064
Workers unite in Berkeley to win their demands
Last Tuesday June 14, the workers of the Berkeley Recycling Center (Community Conservation Center) and members of IU 670 Industrial Workers of the World, held a meeting at their workplace to demand better benefits and salaries. This involved a work stoppage between 2:00PM and 3:00PM.
Comments of the workers:
Asucena Castrejon: She says that her wage does not sustain her. Since she has to pay rent, babysitter, bills, and the salary is not enough to cover these things.
Jose Alvarez: He has found the same circumstances, but unlike his Sister Worker, he has to share his house with one of his relatives to be able to pay the rent, since these days paying the rent is an expense that costs us a third of our salary.
This is only to mention a few examples among many. And that it is why the hard working union members of Berkeley Recycling Center are not going to lower their guard. And if it is to be possible to get what we demand, we are capable of going on strike, if they do not listen to us and arrive at an agreement.
-Maria Valencia, IU 670
X353064
Trabajadores unidos en Berkeley para obtenen sus demandas
El pasado Martes 14 de Junio, los trabajadores del recyclaje de Berkeley (Community Conservation Center) y miembros del IU 670 Industrial Workers of the World, se dieron cita en el mismo lugar, Berkeley Recycling Center, para exigir mejores beneficios y salarios. Conllevando esto un Paro Laboral desde las 2:00PM a las 3:00PM.
Comentarios de los trabajadores:
Asucena Castrejon: Ella dice que su suelda no le alcanza. Ya que tiene que pagar renta, babysitter, billes y el sueldo no le alcanza para cubrir semejantes cosas.
Jose Alvarez: Se encuentra en las mismas circumstancias, pero aldo de su companera el tiene que compartir su casa con uno de sus familiares. Para poder pagar la renta, ya que hoy es estos dias la vivienda es un gasto que nos viene quitando un tercio de nuestro sueldo.
Esto es solo por mencionar algos ejemplos entre otros. Y es por eso que la gente trabajadora de Berkeley Recycle Center, no va a bajar la guardia. Y si de ser posible, para poder conseguir dichas demandas, serian capazes de irse a una huelga, al no poder ser escuchados y llegar a un acuerdo.
-Maria Valencia, IU 670
X353064
Workers unite in Berkeley to win their demands
Last Tuesday June 14, the workers of the Berkeley Recycling Center (Community Conservation Center) and members of IU 670 Industrial Workers of the World, held a meeting at their workplace to demand better benefits and salaries. This involved a work stoppage between 2:00PM and 3:00PM.
Comments of the workers:
Asucena Castrejon: She says that her wage does not sustain her. Since she has to pay rent, babysitter, bills, and the salary is not enough to cover these things.
Jose Alvarez: He has found the same circumstances, but unlike his Sister Worker, he has to share his house with one of his relatives to be able to pay the rent, since these days paying the rent is an expense that costs us a third of our salary.
This is only to mention a few examples among many. And that it is why the hard working union members of Berkeley Recycling Center are not going to lower their guard. And if it is to be possible to get what we demand, we are capable of going on strike, if they do not listen to us and arrive at an agreement.
-Maria Valencia, IU 670
X353064
El pasado Martes 14 de Junio, los trabajadores del recyclaje de Berkeley (Community Conservation Center) y miembros del IU 670 Industrial Workers of the World, se dieron cita en el mismo lugar, Berkeley Recycling Center, para exigir mejores beneficios y salarios. Conllevando esto un Paro Laboral desde las 2:00PM a las 3:00PM.
Comentarios de los trabajadores:
Asucena Castrejon: Ella dice que su suelda no le alcanza. Ya que tiene que pagar renta, babysitter, billes y el sueldo no le alcanza para cubrir semejantes cosas.
Jose Alvarez: Se encuentra en las mismas circumstancias, pero aldo de su companera el tiene que compartir su casa con uno de sus familiares. Para poder pagar la renta, ya que hoy es estos dias la vivienda es un gasto que nos viene quitando un tercio de nuestro sueldo.
Esto es solo por mencionar algos ejemplos entre otros. Y es por eso que la gente trabajadora de Berkeley Recycle Center, no va a bajar la guardia. Y si de ser posible, para poder conseguir dichas demandas, serian capazes de irse a una huelga, al no poder ser escuchados y llegar a un acuerdo.
-Maria Valencia, IU 670
X353064
Workers unite in Berkeley to win their demands
Last Tuesday June 14, the workers of the Berkeley Recycling Center (Community Conservation Center) and members of IU 670 Industrial Workers of the World, held a meeting at their workplace to demand better benefits and salaries. This involved a work stoppage between 2:00PM and 3:00PM.
Comments of the workers:
Asucena Castrejon: She says that her wage does not sustain her. Since she has to pay rent, babysitter, bills, and the salary is not enough to cover these things.
Jose Alvarez: He has found the same circumstances, but unlike his Sister Worker, he has to share his house with one of his relatives to be able to pay the rent, since these days paying the rent is an expense that costs us a third of our salary.
This is only to mention a few examples among many. And that it is why the hard working union members of Berkeley Recycling Center are not going to lower their guard. And if it is to be possible to get what we demand, we are capable of going on strike, if they do not listen to us and arrive at an agreement.
-Maria Valencia, IU 670
X353064
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