Local 6 members at Stratas Foods in Fresno take a stand for fair wages
Forty-five members from Local 6 in Fresno, CA have been locked out by Stratas Foods since May 4th after workers unanimously rejected the company’s “last, best and final offer.”
The main sticking point is economics. The company is demanding that workers accept a five-year contract with a 2 percent increase in wages for the first 3 years, a 2.25 percent increase in the fourth year, and a 2.5 percent increase in the fifth year. Workers are seeking a 5 percent increase to keep pace with the rising cost of living. Stratas workers have been working four, 12-hour shifts per week throughout the pandemic, packing and shipping cooking oil for several fast-food chains, Costco and Smart & Final. After being lowballed on wages for years, these workers have decided to take a stand for a fair wage increase.
Stratas Foods generates approximately $700 million in annual revenue. The company is a joint venture between multinational-giant ArcherDaniels-Midland—which has an annual revenue of $64.66 billion—and ACH Food Companies.
Locked out on May 4th
“On May 4th, they kicked us out of the plant,” said shop steward and negotiating team member Rosalinda Campos.“They told us to leave, and then they locked the doors on us. We haven’t been to work since.” Campos said that it’s been a tough fight with the company and that they have been resistant to offering a fair wage package to workers. “When we started negotiating in March, the company started with a 1 percent wage increase,” she said. “It’s taken us until now just to get them to 2 percent. We’ve always been lowballed on the wages. It’s always, ‘Take it, or leave it.’ The workers here are tired of the low wages they always get it. This time we decided to take a stand.”
“This is a billion-dollar company,” said Local 6 Business Agent Corey Tacconi who added that the company’s excuse to pay Stratas workers less because they live in the San Joaquin Valley just doesn’t cut it. “The only difference here is that housing can be cheaper, depending on where you want to live. But other costs such as fuel and groceries are comparable to the Bay Area.” He said the current hourly rate at the plant averages out to about $17 an hour. The mood on the picket line is upbeat and optimistic.
Workers have received positive support and food deliveries from the community. “The membership down here is very strong,” Tacconi said. “We’ve got a good group. They are strong. They are united and we are going to get them the best possible contract that we can.”
Solidarity
ILWU International President Willie Adams and Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris have both been out to picket line to show their solidarity with the Local 6 workers. “Stay strong and united and you will win this fight,” Adams told workers on the picket line. He said the International Officers will be in contact with Local 6 Secretary-Treasurer Jose Nunez and will be closely monitoring the lockout. “We will make sure you have the support and help that you need from the ILWU family to get a fair contract.”
Working through the pandemic
The plant remained operational during the pandemic because it was deemed an essential business. Workers continued to produce for Stratas while putting themselves and their families at risk of being exposed to COVID.
“Since the pandemic, the company has picked up new contracts. If anything, production has gone up,” Campos said.
“We’ve had several people here who contracted COVID,” said James Carr, a 19-year employee of Stratas. “A few months back a worker here was in a coma from COVID. He is still out of work. On the one hand, we were fortunate to be one of the companies that operated through the pandemic, but by the same token we were exposed to it.”
“We put ourselves at risk coming to work,” added George Gallardo, who has been with Stratas for 28 years.” I got COVID and so did my wife and daughter. There were a couple of other workers here who also got it. We kept producing for the company, so they didn’t lose any money.”
Time to take a stand
Like many workers in this economy, Stratas employees are tired of losing ground while company profits continue to soar because of their hard work.
“This company plays hardball all the time, but this is the first time that we have stood our ground,” said shop steward and 20-year Stratas employee Earl “Chip” Hagans. “We’ve got a younger workforce now and they are tired of being lowballed on their contract.”
Edward Tucker who works in the warehouse at Stratas expressed the frustration felt by many Stratas workers.
“You’ve got to put your foot down, even if it costs you personally,” Tucker said. “It’s a choice you have to make to fight for yourself, the people that you work with, and the people that will come in after you leave this place. It’s got to get better. Somewhere down the line, it’s got to get better. Local 6 members at Stratas Foods in Fresno take a stand for fair wages Relief fund for locked out Local 6 work
We want better wages. They raised our medical insurance. What they are offering doesn’t cover our insurance increase and the cost of living which has gone up. Since I have been here, every contract has been like this. They have never given us a fair raise. We are putting our foot down. We just want a fair raise that keeps up with the cost of living
We are trying to get a decent wage on this contract. This company plays hardball all the time, but this is the first time that we have stood our ground. We’ve got a younger workforce now and they are tired of being lowballed on their contract.
We are out here trying to better the contract than what we’ve had in previous years. The primary reason I am out here is to support my co-workers, many of whom have worked here for over 20 years. We just want a fair wage. Especially for a young couple, we want a fair wage so they can afford a home for their family. We don’t want to be out here, but if this is what it takes to get something fair, then it must be done. We can work the 12-hour shift for a short time but after an extended period, the crews get overworked. Morale starts to suffer. If you have a content workforce, they will be more productive. You don’t want to drain them with a heavy schedule that doesn’t allow them to recover in between their shifts. Hopefully, the scheduling will be adjusted so they can get their rest.
We are out here because the contract the company is offering us isn’t fair. The cost of living is going up and our insurance costs are going. The company is picking up new customers and they are making money. We aren’t asking for much. We just want to be able to keep up with the rising cost of living. If we accepted the contract the company is offering, we would be losing ground.