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Azteca, striking workers to meet with mediator
 

 

February 22nd, 2003

By Tina Cha

Chicago Daily Herald

 

An agreement between Azteca Foods Inc. and its striking workers to meet with federal mediators is no guarantee that the strike, now in its fifth month, will end soon.

After mounting pressure from members of Congress and community leaders, the South Side Chicago tortilla maker agreed this week to schedule meetings with workers and federal mediators, an action the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America Local 1159 has been requesting since the strike began.

Azteca has revenues of at least $30 million, according to the union. The strike has been a blow to President and Chief Executive Officer Arthur Velasquez, a prominent Mexican-American businessman heavily involved in cultural, community and business organizations around Chicago.

Velasquez could not be reached for comment. His office said he was out of the country.

Earlier this month a letter signed by U.S. Reps. Danny K. Davis, Luis Gutierrez, Jesse L. Jackson Jr., William O. Lipinski, Bobby L. Rush and Jan Schakowsky urged the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service "to take a more active role toward facilitating a productive dialogue, resolving outstanding issues and reaching an equitable and fair settlement for all of the involved parties."

Dan O'Leary, director of the service's regional office in Hinsdale, said he will likely join in the discussions with Don O'Brien, who has been assigned to mediate.

"The important ingredient is that both sides have a commitment to work out an agreement," O'Leary said. "But it's their contract, their decision. We're just there to assist."

On Sept. 30, 63 Azteca workers walked out to protest what they termed labor law violations and takeaways, or items that were in previous union contracts that the company wanted removed. In addition, workers want a bigger raise and benefit improvements, said Leah Fried, a field organizer for the union.

The company offered to raise wages 10 cents an hour over three years, Fried said. The local asked for a $2 an hour increase over three years.

Azteca's wage offer comes to a 32 cent pay cut when the rise in health insurance costs is taken into account, Fried said.

None of the 63 workers have crossed the picket line, Fried said.

"It's a sacrifice they made knowing they had no other choice," Fried said.

The majority of the Azteca workers are Mexican immigrants.

"I never think to have this kind of problem because for 26 years I've been working for this company," said Ebuvigez Martinez of Cicero, a general laborer for Azteca.

About a third of the workers have had to find other jobs, said Fried, and many of them are receiving food coupons from the union as well as food donations from churches. They can also receive gas assistance in return for spending time on the picket line in front of the Azteca factory.

Azteca's agreement to mediation doesn't guarantee a settlement.

"We're very hopeful," Fried said. "We think it's a sign that they're willing to negotiate a fair settlement and talk about improvements and not takeaways."


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