After a three-year struggle for union representation at the Chicago-based Azteca Tortillas, one of the nation’s largest and most successful tortilla producers, 63 employees won a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election on April 12, 2002, and became members of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) Local 1159.
About a month later UE started contract negotiations with Azteca. While the mostly female Latino workers expressed concerns about verbal abuse, rashes, burns and workplace injuries, Azteca showed its true colors. Azteca’s contract offer included gutting seniority rights in new job openings, cutting paid grievance procedures, eliminating clean-up time at the end of shifts and raising healthcare costs 700 percent — while only offering a 5-cent raise. Most of the Azteca workers could not afford to pay more in healthcare.
On September 30, members of Local 1159 were forced on strike. Azteca, which claims to be a pillar of the immigrant community, told all the workers they were fired for participating in the picket. In response to this illegal activity UE filed unfair labor practice charges against Azteca.
Azteca, which has an estimated yearly revenue of $30-$33 million, was charged with violating two Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and was cited 12 times by the NLRB, including interrogation of employees, acts of illegal surveillance and threats of hiring permanent replacements.
UE members have remained united and strong. Not one striker has crossed the 24-hour-a-day, 7-days-a-week picket line, despite the bitter Chicago winter and chilly spring.
By working in coalitions and partnering with small businesses in the community, UE has been able to exert much more pressure on Azteca, and is hitting Azteca CEO and President Art Velasquez where it hurts — his moneybags.
In late March UE announced that grocery stores that haven’t honored the boycott should prepare for the “April Days of Action.� The month-long campaign was designed to build consumer awareness of the ongoing struggle for the Azteca workers.
In Chicago UE has focused on Jewel Grocery, the area’s largest grocery chain. Chicago’s Hyde Park Food Co-op announced that they would support the boycott against Azteca. “The Hyde Park Food Co-op sent a very strong message to Art Velasquez that union-busting will not be tolerated,� said Josefina Bonilla, an Azteca worker.
While Azteca tortillas, shells and chips continue to be sold in grocery stores throughout Chicago and the country, UE is certain the boycott is having an effect. They are also confident the Azteca workers, with community, student, religious and political support, will get a real contract.
Go to www.ranknfile-ue.org to find out how you can help.
Tony Pec works for the internet department of the Communist Party USA
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Dynamic Magazine
