Santa Fe Springs ― Since Nov. 3, more than 100 workers, primarily Latinas have been on strike against the Rich Products Corporation a globally distributed frozen food company. There are 11,000 employees company-wide.
They are on strike demanding higher wages from a company that generated $4 billion in revenue in 2021, The net worth of the chairman and majority owner of the company, Bob Rich Jr, is nearly $7.5 billion according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
The average worker’s salary is under $17 an hour while the Murphysburg, Tennessee plant averages $23 an hour in a right-to-work state with far less living costs than California.
The international representative for Local 37 of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), Nate Zeff, spoke on what was at stake to Random Lengths News.
“Workers are asking for one dollar per hour each year for a three-year contract,” Zeff said. “But the company offers only $0.50 the first year and $0.55 the second and third year. There is no cost-of-living allowance, while inflation has begun to rage across the country. The difference between the wages the workers are asking for and what the company wants to give them only amounts to about $160,000 per year for the entire plant.”
Zeff explained that from the union’s perspective, the dispute isn’t about money, because the company can afford it. The dispute is about Latina women, averaging 40 to 60 years old, standing up for themselves.
In denying the demand for increased salaries, the company proposed adopting a worse health care plan to save money to pay for wage increases. The negotiating committee rejected this almost unanimously.
Workers have been subsisting on $185 a week strike benefits plus food and gift cards from the LA Federation of Labor. California State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, supervisor Janice Hahn and Sen. Bernie Sanders all publicly expressed support for the strikers.
Sanders said the company’s offer was “pathetic” considering the monetary gap between its billionaire owner and employee wages. Sanders said that Bob Rich, the company’s majority owner, gained more than $2 billion in wealth during the pandemic.”
Cristina Lujan, a striker and spokesperson for the plant’s union members, told Random Lengths that she and “Went on strike because of wages. After 19 years I only make $16.98 an hour. We are also faced with speed up on the job and forced overtime. We attempt to follow safety measures but we cannot and keep up with production quotas demanded by management. Many of us are injured on the job and suffer from carpal tunnel, shoulder and back injuries.”
“During the past year with Covid” she continued, “conditions in the plant have been especially hard as more than half got sick with the virus and were repeatedly called at home by human resources and pressured to come back in. Those of us still working were forced to make up for the worker shortage.”
Christina and the strikers are very positive about the unity they have in the strike, the solidarity and publicity they are receiving and the financial help that they are receiving to help people pay rent and mortgages as well as put food on the table.
Those wishing to support the striker’s solidarity fund can go to:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/official-jon-donaire-strikers-gofundme-page
Find the strike on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonDonaireStrike
The union also welcomes solidarity on its 24/7 picket line at 12805 Busch Pl. Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670