Factory workers at alleged sweatshop stage "No Union" rally

About 30 workers with picket signs stood outside Concept Packaging Wednesday, telling a reporter they don't want a union and they are happy with their jobs. Teamsters Local 445 has waged a month-long campaign to organize Concepts Packaging, the country's second-largest bottler of nail polish. Earlier this month, about 40 workers signed a petition to unionize. Within days, 29 workers were fired — many of whose names were on the petition."We don't want no union in here," said Deborah Long, who has worked at the factory for eight years making minimum wage. "We haven't had no problems until someone wanted the union in here. We've been doing good." Martin Rosas, a fork-lift operator, said he has been at the factory for 19 years. He makes more than minimum wage but has no health insurance or sick leave. "We don't need it," he said. "I come to work sick because I need money. I think everybody here don't need the union." Gloria Garcia, who said she has been a line worker for seven years, also makes minimum wage — $7.15an hour. "I don't know why they want a union," she said. "Pay is OK for me." Allegations of sweatshop conditions have prompted an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Workers have said they are not given masks despite toxic fumes and poor ventilation.
"We don't need the masks," said Garcia. "It's just a little smell."
The workers, most of whom did not speak English, gave a reporter a copy of a three-page petition written in English and bearing 42 signatures, saying they no longer "wish to be represented by Teamsters Local 445."
"The company is obviously desperate to block the effort of the union to come in," said Adrian Huff of Local 445. "If we weren't going to get them increases and guarantees, he would open the doors to us."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Concept
• Packaging
• Teamsters
• Local
• 445
• sweat
• shop

[SupremeAmerican]

unions are killing our education system too. The only schools that are competitive with europe and asia are private catholic schools, who do not allow unions.

[SupremeAmerican]

unions need to leave them alone and quit pushing their intollerance on others.

[Serb100Percent]

They have serious brain damage. Working sick and dont care.

[TheMango121]

@4149stonepony

Nope. My father and I own a small excavation company. I can work a fucking union pig in the ground. Problem with unions is some piece of shit makes the same money you do, regardless on how hard they work. If you say "overtime" to a union worker, they picket and cry a fucking river. I have seen it my friend.

[4149stonepony]

@TheMango121 dumb lying fuck

[SocialistaTribalista]

Manager intimidation, in 8 years their were 42 cases of worker intimidation by unionize-rs, each year the Department of Labor counts around 20,000 cases of intimidation, illegal firings and law breaking tactics to stomp out democratic rights of workers...

THIS IS WHY WE NEED EFCA, to offer workers another option if a ballot vote is not realistically attainable, to stave off intimidation by management.

Support labor ppl

[TheMango121]

I love how union workers claim to be so high and mighty. I make more money then your typical worker. Its called HARD WORK and dedication..

[minneola24]

its sad, their trained to say that by their workers

[g1attie]

all the non union supporters looked like they were mexican. They probably didn't have their green card or weren't citizens. Offcourse they would object to a union. LIKe my dad always said. IF you show weakness people will jump all over you.

[bsullivan688]

This is a sad sad video that lady is missing half her teeth and has no benefits and they have the worst excuses for not wanting a union "no need" and the paid vacations question...what do you mean? thats so horrible fucking scabs