Monday, November 29, 2010

Denver JwJ's rally in support of the ILA 1291 laid off Del Monte Fresh Produce workers

Check it out: more about the Denver action in solidarity with the ILA 1291 dockworkers and in support of the Del Monte Boycott.

Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez met the delegation outside in 28-degree weather and stated, “It’s a cold day and a cold night but this is an action of solidarity. We are here because what Del Monte is doing is undermining the fundamental pillars of the work force in America. They are taking us back to the 1920s.”

Councilman Lopez continued, “I personally will boycott Del Monte products until this issue is resolved and in a few moments we will be getting signatures from Denver City Council on a letter to the head of Del Monte.”


In other news, stay tuned for more information about this campaign. If Del Monte thinks ignoring these workers and their families will make this whole thing go away, they're dead wrong.

Last Monday was only the beginning.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Buzz: Monday's Del Monte Boycott Day of Action



Philly JwJ ED Gwen Snyder, ILA's Dennis Olson on Union Edge Radio today, 1180 AM from 2-4 pm



















Philadelphia JwJ Executive Director Gwen Snyder and ILA Local 1291's Dennis Olson will be on air today live on The Union Edge, a talk show for workers, today from 2 to 4 pm.

Catch it in Philly on WFYL 1180 AM, or stream it live at WFRN's website.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Workers and supporters block traffic in Center City Philadelphia in protest of Del Monte's efforts to undermine fair workplace standards

Nearly four hundred people, including dockworkers, their families, and Philadelphia Jobs with Justice activists joined together in Love Park today as a part of a National Day of Action to protest Del Monte Fresh Produce's elimination of family-sustaining union jobs at the Port of Philadelphia.

In other cities around the country, from Coral Gables, FL, to Galveston, TX to Denver, CO, hundreds of activists rallied in solidarity with the laid-off dockworkers of ILA Local 1291. Workers in Portugal and Spain also demonstrated in a show of support.

Prominent Philadelphia leaders including Councilpeople Jannie Blackwell and Bill Green, Johnny Dougherty (business manager of IBEW Local 98), President Pat Eiding of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, and John Meyerson (political director, UFCW Local 1776) joined family members of laid off dockworkers at the Love Park rally, sounding a clear call for a boycott of Del Monte goods.

The rally culminated with the three year old daughter of a laid-off longshoreman joining the director of Philadelphia Jobs with Justice onstage to tear the Del Monte logo off of a giant prop pineapple, ripping it to shreds.

The spirited crowd spontaneously took to the streets, occupying the entirety of John F. Kennedy Blvd., an arterial Center City thoroughfare, then took over a local Wawa supermarket (Wawa is a major purveyor of Del Monte fruit in the Delaware Valley area). Kicked out by management, the crowd of hundreds took to the streets once again. Motorists honked and clapped in support as the crowd marched around City Hall several times, completely halting the flow of traffic through the critical intersection during the noontime rush.

Once again, workers of Philadelphia have made it clear that we are a city of people that believe that all people deserve good jobs with fair wages and benefits. Workers in other parts of the country--and the world--have also shown their strong support for the longshoremen's cause.

I can say this with certainty: Del Monte is in for one hell of a fight.

Interested in finding out more about ILA Local 1291 and the Del Monte boycott? Visit the boycott website to find out more.



Thursday, November 18, 2010

Fightback Rally to Re-instate ESI Workers tomorrow in Bensalem


Express Scripts Suspends 3 Workers for Trying to Save Their Jobs.
FIGHTBACK RALLY ON FRIDAY, Nov 19, 4-7 PM
@ Express Scripts, 4850 Street Road, Bensalem, PA 19053.

















On Wednesday instead of bargaining -- ESI suspended 3 bargaining committee members without pay for telling customers about their plight. These workers have 31 years of service amongst them and excellent records. This action is despicable, outrageous and violates our member’s rights to union activity.

Join them at a rally this Friday to demand that ESI immediately re-instate Ken Smith, a Data Entry Tech for 5 years; Debbie Dronsfield, a PCA for 16 years; and Jackie Dixon, a Data Entry Tech for 7 years and that they negotiate a fair and just contract now.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Monday, Nov 22 @ 11am: Rally at Love Park

Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. has cut at least 200 family-sustaining living wage stevedore jobs unionized under the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1291 at the Port of Philadelphia and is moving its business to a privately owned terminal that pays its workers barely minimum wage. These workers have served Del Monte loyally for twenty-two years; Del Monte gave them four days' notice before finalizing the details of their abandonment of these folks.

Meanwhile, Del Monte has posted record profits in each of the last two years.

Join us Monday, November 22nd, at 11 am in Love Park to protest Del Monte's callous behavior.

Want to know more? Check out the Call to Action put out by Friends And Family of Local 1291, then download pdf flyers about the rally and boycott.


Click on the above image for more information

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Boycott Del Monte - Support Longshore Workers




Click on the images to enlarge, 
and on the boycott logo for the Labor Notes story
 ...more to come soon!