ILWU stands behind San Diego warehouse workers seeking union recognition
More than 30 members of ILWU Local 29 in San Diego, CA supported warehouse workers from Four Seasons Fresh Transport as they marched on the boss with a petition asking the company for voluntary union recognition. These workers play a crucial role in the supply chain for Dole fruits.
Local 29 President Ray Leyba expressed strong support for the workers. At a short rally at the ILWU Hall just before the march, Leyba said, “Local 29 will support the warehouse allied division because they fall under the umbrella of the ILWU. An injury to one is an injury to all.” Workers are seeking better pay and conditions. The company currently pays below area standards for this type of warehouse work in San Diego forcing some workers to commute from Tijuana, Mexico to make ends meet. The Four Seasons warehouse workers want to be rep[1]resented by ILWU Local 29 Allied Division.
Warehouse worker Diana Gualos said that she was grateful for the support from Local 29 members and officers who turned out to march with them to deliver the petition for union recognition. “It means so much to us knowing Local 29 has our back as we fight to be paid fairly,” Gualos said.
Several workers from Four Sea[1]sons marched over to the warehouse with the ILWU solidarity contingent that gathered at the Local 29 hall, which is less than 200 yards away. The group marched peace[1]fully behind two ILWU banners as they chanted slogans that encouraged Four Seasons to do the right thing and voluntarily recognize the union supported by the overwhelming majority of the workers.
ILWU International Vice President (Mainland) Bobby Olvera, Jr. and International Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris both attended the march underscoring the strong support for these workers at all levels of the ILWU.
Vice President Olvera praised the courage of the Four Seasons workers for standing up for their collective bargaining rights. “How hard is it nowadays for individuals who don’t have a union to put pen to paper with their name or walk up to their employer and demand their right Olvera asked. “These workers need your support. They need to hear you and know that we are here for them.”
Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris rallied the group for a safe, orderly, and spirited march to the Four Seasons warehouse. “We’re seeking economic justice for workers at Four Seasons. We’re delivering a message of solidarity,” Ferris said. “The ILWU will not stand by and allow employers to drive down wages for essential supply chain workers. Our union’s Seventh Guiding Principle says that just as water flows to its lowest level so do wages if we allow the majority of workers to be unorganized. We are out here today because organizing the unorganized is the right thing to do.”
Warehouse worker Alejandro Calvillo has worked at Four Seasons for three years. He knows first-hand the importance of being in a union. He was a union member for 26 years when he worked at General Dynamics in San Diego until the company moved good-paying jobs to so-called “right to work” states. “I was explaining to my co-workers what a union means. Being in a union means that you are not by yourself. You always have help. You’re not alone,” Calvillo said. Four Seasons refused to voluntarily recognize the union and workers filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board on August 24th. An election has been scheduled for October 1.
