SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO—More than 100 women union activists from all over the West Coast rallied at See’s South San Francisco headquarters July 20. They made a joyful racket, singing and shouting and rattling homemade noisemakers. They carried some wacky signs—“It’s so Sees-y, Just say ‘Nut-trality’” for one.

But they came with a serious purpose. They wanted the candy maker to use its power as a major purchaser of almonds from Blue Diamond Growers to urge BDG to sign a neutrality agreement with the ILWU. A neutrality agreement would help the workers at Blue Diamond make their own decision on unionization, free of threats and coercion.

“I’m third-generation longshore,” said Fran Grove of ILWU foremen’s local 94. “Everything I know is from the union, and I know how important it is. We’re asking See’s not to stand aside, but step up to the plate and ask Blue Diamond to do the right thing.”

Women make up about half the workforce at BDG’s Sacramento plant. Almost all the sorters and packers are women. This is the largest and lowest-paid group at the plant. Normally most of the sorters and packers get laid off for the summer. This summer they’ve found themselves working overtime instead, as BDG pushes to get ready for this year’s bumper crop. No one from the plant was able to join the rally, but Gloria Hessel, a sorter, called in on her morning break and spoke to a reporter from the San Mateo County Times.

Hessel gave the paper an earful about conditions in the plant. During the recent hot spell she had suffered heat exhaustion, she said, and other sorters were getting blisters from handling the heated nuts. Their eyes burn and they get nauseous when the plant is not properly aired out after fumigation.

“I’m ready to retire,” she told the paper. “I’d like to finish with good conditions.”

After the crowd marched and chanted for awhile, a delegation approached the office with petitions to deliver to See’s CEO Brad Kintsler. Hundreds of people had signed in person and on-line, asking See’s to talk to Blue Diamond. A pinch-lipped See’s security guard stonewalled their efforts. “Put the petition in the mail,” he said. “Make an appointment.”

In fact, the union had been calling and writing for months, but Kintsler had been unwilling to dialogue.

“So See’s doesn’t care to hear from the people?” said ILWU Local 94’s Debra Pallares.
“You need to hear us louder?” asked Gail Ross from longshore Local 23. “We’ll be back,” she said, and the delegation and then the whole crowd took up the chant.

—Marcy Rein