This event will commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in Memphis, Tennessee, by continuing his work of solidarity with exploited and marginalized workers. Dr. King was in Memphis to support the struggle of African American sanitation workers to win recognition of their union when he was assassinated. We will be in Dayton to support poultry workers who were fired because they dared to try and form a union.
Join us as we deliver a community petition and march in support of them. We will gather on Wednesday April 4 from 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM in the parking lot behind the Thomas House in downtown Dayton (222 Main Street) and then at 1:30 we will march to the Cargill plant to deliver the petitions for Nellie, Graciela and Ernestina and tell Cargill to give them their jobs back NOW!
Read the stories of Nelly, Graciela and Ernestina: Their stories are stories of the courage to stand for their rights. Such courage and stubborn hope inspires other workers and it should inspire us to stand with them in their struggle for justice.
Nelly worked at Cargill Dayton for 11 years. She was a strong union leader and actively talked to her coworkers about organizing and many of her coworkers signed union cards with her. In 2017, Nelly suffered a workplace injury, tearing multiple tendons. When she returned to work after surgery, the nurses harassed her and told her that now that she was injured, she was useless and she should leave and find a new job. In January, Nelly was called to the Human Resources office, where a manger fired her, and a supervisor escorted her from the premises. Nelly believes that she has been fired in retaliation for organizing to win a union for workers at Cargill.
Graciela worked at Cargill for 12 years. She is a strong union supporter and proudly wore her union shirt to work on Fridays with her coworkers. Following an injury and surgery, Graciela needed to work with restrictions, and after she had been back to work for a few months, her supervisor at Cargill told her that she couldn't work anymore until she brought in a doctor's note. However, despite multiple attempts to deliver a note, Cargill has refused to accept the note and allow her to return to work. Graciela believes that she has been targeted and retaliated against for her support of the union for Cargill workers.
Ernestina worked at Cargill Dayton for 14 years. She was a strong union supporter and wore her union shirt on Fridays. Ernestina was put to work on a new line in the plant, and she injured her shoulder.When she went to the infirmary, she was told that her bones ached because she was old, not because of the work, and that she would not be allowed to return to work until she brought in a doctor's note - and that she would be responsible for paying the medical bills. Ernestina has been out of work since October, and she believes that she has been targeted and retaliated against for her support of the union.
Help us break new ground. Come and make history!
Please Like and Share widely. Invite Your Friends On and Off Facebook.
We will sing and there will be speeches by the women workers and their community allies. Bring your own signs honoring Dr. King, supporting our demand that Nellie, Graciela and Ernestina be immediately reinstated and that Cargill stop all retaliation against and intimidation of workers. Signs will also be available.
The petition was initiated by Community Solidarity with the Poultry Workers in close cooperation with the Workers Center. The petition has been endorsed by Faith in Action and Virginia Organizing, Harrisonburg/Rockingham County Chapter. Hundreds of area residents have signed the petition.
For more Information: See accompanying petition (attached file below) which includes details of the stories of the three poultry workers that were suspended and the exact wording of the petition. Go to this WMRA report “Poultry Workers Charge Abuse at Cargil, February 14, 2018 at <http://wmra.org/post/poultry-
No comments:
Post a Comment