Open Media: Angelica Textile Plant Workers Strike for Increased Wages, Pension & Health Benefits

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.openmediaboston.org/node/1061



Somerville, MA - More than 400 mostly immigrant factory workers of Angelica Textile Services initiated a strike on December 10 after contract negotiations between the workers' union, UFCW Local 1445, and the company stalled. The workers, who had been without a contract since December 1, formed a picket line outside the plant on the morning of December 11 and were joined by local members and officers of other unions and community organizations who spoke at a midday rally with more than 100 supporters.

Plant workers and supporters stood in the freezing cold and wind outside Angelica's factory on Innerbelt Road in East Somerville, holding signs that read, "Respect our hard work!" and "Angelica, queremos un contracto!" Just across the street, immigrant community organization Centro Presente kept its doors open to those on the picket line while staff and members of the organization joined in support.

Jeffrey Bollen, Secretary Treasurer of UFCW Local 1445, told Open Media Boston that despite making some progress in contract negotiations, an agreement had not yet been reached on wages, pensions or health insurance. "We're far apart on wages. The company's offered half of what they offered three years ago and they haven't suffered because of the economy. They have not had layoffs, they have not suffered lack of orders, they have not dropped in profits. They're a very profitable company. <…> These people have been paying almost one third of their salary to get into the health and welfare program that the company offers. Although we've made some improvements on that, we're not there yet. We've gotta get it where it's affordable for these workers."

According to Ramona Dias, a worker at Angelica, managers have expected workers to increase output with the recent addition of monitoring cameras and computer control systems, but without a commensurate increase in wages. "We want at least a dollar more. If they want us to put out the work, they should be able to pay us because they got plenty of places, plenty of companies and stuff that they could afford to give us something. I'm tired of this."

Fernando Lemus, the UFCW Local 1445 Union Representative for Angelica employees explained further. " have about 28 plants around the country, thousands and thousands of workers, and unfortunately, in the south part of the country, you know, unemployment is much, much lower than it is here. <…> Unfortunately the cost of living in Boston is so high that what the company is putting on the table is not acceptable for these workers."

FULL story at link.