A Call to Action from the Friends and Families of ILA Local 1291 (Del Monte foods)

[Omaha Steve]

http://phillyjwj.org/delmonte/index.html

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As many of you are already aware, these are harsh times for workers. Big business has callously used this recession as an excuse to lower working standards, wages, and benefits.

We are writing to ask for your support as we stand up and fight back against a particularly cynical such ploy here at the tri-state Port of Philadelphia. Here, Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. has cut at least 200 family-sustaining living wage stevedore jobs unionized under the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1291 and is moving its business to a privately owned terminal that pays its workers barely minimum wage. These workers have served Del Monte loyally for twenty-two years; Del Monte gave them four days' notice before finalizing the details of their abandonment of these folks.

This notice came after Del Monte pressured Local 1291 into an agreement to $5 million in wage decreases and other concessions. In an effort to keep the Del Monte jobs and business, the State of New Jersey responded immediately, making approximately $25 million in infrastructure improvements, offering more acreage at no cost, and decreasing the cap on Del Monte's electricity bills by nearly half--from $1.3 million down to $700,000. Despite the rapid response by the state and generous concessions by the union, Del Monte still moved its business to another port.

Meanwhile, Del Monte has posted record high earnings in each of the last two years.

Through legal maneuvering, Del Monte has effectively gagged the union and its members, threatening to aggressively pursue heavy penalties for these folks should they choose to speak out.

We, the friends, families, and communities of ILA Local 1291, are outraged by this company's actions. Del Monte has literally sold the jobs that sustain our communities downriver. They have shown total disregard for the efforts of local government to preserve family-sustaining union jobs.

We are calling on friends and allies of workers everywhere to mobilize for a National Day of Action on November 22nd in solidarity with our sisters and brothers who serve on the docks of the Delaware.

Del Monte and other greedy corporations must realize: we will not be exploited, and we will not stand for their attempts to undermine the well-being of working families.

In hope and in solidarity,

Friends and Families of Local 1291

[thunder rising]

1. What woud the union have us do? In the old days that scab dock would glow red one night..just say'n

[billlll]

2. DelM the suPplier of storebrand limas to Kroger?

If so should we boycott?