nationalmecha.org

I was able to address the Council and let them know that there is a whole coalition of organizations supporting the workers, one of them now being National M.E.Ch.A. as we also adopted a resolution at this past conference at Sac State.

After the meeting was adjourned I was approached by various Blue Diamond workers and I was informed that even until today there are many remarks made directly to the employees by management that the "ACTION ON THE 21ST HAD NO IMPACT, AND THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE NO POWER AND MADE NO DIFFERENCE". Now, let's go back in time to Friday March 21st, 2008 the day of our national action, and remember that on that day more than 500 MEChistAs showed up and that there was a minimal amount of workers at the plant. If students truly had no power, how is it that even though after over 20 years, the company chose that day to give its workers the holiday (Good Friday) off?! Yea, students have no power. Because according to the workers that I talked to, everyone knows we were there even though our chalk art with strong messages of solidarity was washed off the next morning.

So I think it's right to assume that this company obviously wants to prevent its workers from knowing we and everyone else support them. It is also right to assume that we definitely made an impact, and that will it continue onto the future of this campaign. As it passed in the resolution circle at nationals (I will send a copy of that as soon as I get it) we have made the commitment to stand in solidarity with these workers.

The ILWU and specially the Blue Diamond workers send their gratitude for all our support and gladly look forward to further work with us.

If there are any questions don't hesitate to ask.

In solidarity,

Guambry Santillan
MEChA de Sac City College
Alta Califas Norte MEChA Región

NEWS ADVISORY: Sacramento City Council to intervene in Blue Diamond union standoff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008
Contact: Marcy Rein, ILWU Organizing Dept., 510-847-4443. Para información en español, favor de llamar á Agustin Ramirez, ILWU, 916-606-4681 (cell)

Attention: Daybook/Assignment Desk

Sacramento City Council to take hard look at Blue Diamond Tuesday, will offer plan to end stand-off over union vote

SACRAMENTO - The Sacramento City Council will vote Tuesday evening on a proposal to intervene and end the long-running standoff between Blue Diamond Growers (BDG) and its workers who want to join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

A rally and news briefing will be held at 5:30 p.m. TUESDAY outside City Hall (915 I St.), prior to the City Council meeting at 6 p.m. (Blue Diamond is expected to be the first item on the agenda).

The proposal calls on Mayor Heather Fargo to create an ad hoc committee of no more than four members of the City Council to meet informally with representatives of Blue Diamond management, workers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to mediate the longstanding conflict over how the workers will decide whether or not they want a union.

The workers now say they would be willing to have a secret ballot election, as long as the company agrees to some additional ground rules to ensure it will be a "free and fair" election.

Blue Diamond has so far refused to consider any changes to the flawed NLRB process. A panel of eight community leaders including Councilmember Steve Cohn and State Sen. Darrell Steinberg wrote to BDG in December urging the company to adopt fair ground rules for a union vote. Blue Diamond CEO Doug Youngdahl let two months lapse before sending Sen. Steinberg a dismissive reply.

The Council will also get an update on Blue Diamond's compliance with the economic development agreement it signed with the city in 1995.