Date: Sat, 09 Aug 1997 08:47:03 -0500 From: Michael Novick <mnovick-AT-laedu.lalc.k12.ca.us> Subject: AUT: Dozens of Mexicano workers walk out at Carlsbad plant Dozens of workers walk out at Carlsbad plant | Employees protest after > being informed of layoffs due Oct. 1 > > CARLSBAD -- Workers at a tool manufacturing plant here walked off > the job yesterday after they were told that there will be a layoff > Oct. 1 and their jobs would be transferred to an employment agency. > > About 200 employees of Republic Tool and Manufacturing Corp. walked > out at 7 a.m., according to Belen Rosas, head of the Union de > Trabajadores Sin Frontera, a labor organizing group concerned about > the primarily Spanish-speaking employees. > > Rosas said union leadership asked to talk with company officials > but were told to leave the property. Management then called police. > > However, Republic Tool general manager Ron Eaton estimated only 50 > to 60 workers left their jobs at the company, which makes > fertilizer spreaders. He said the workers were not represented by a > collective bargaining agent. Eaton said about 100 workers were > informed last week their jobs would be eliminated and the work > contracted to another company. Workers will be offered automatic > transfers to the contracting company, although Eaton could not say > whether their pay or benefits would remain the same. Most of the > workers affected are involved in the assembly of fertilizer > spreaders and earn minimum wage or "slightly more," Eaton said. > "Our business is highly seasonal and there is a segment of the work > force, unfortunately, that is susceptible to layoffs caused by > business cycles," Eaton said. > > The workers were informed of the pending action last week, and were > encouraged to transfer to the new company, apply for vacant > positions at Republic Tool or look for jobs outside the company, > Eaton said. > > Many of those who walked off their jobs have worked for Republic > for years -- some as long as 15 years -- and have recently had > their work week cut to three days and then two days. > > Last week, workers said, they were told to sign a document, which > many of the Spanish speakers could not read, and if they didn't > sign, they were told they would not receive their paychecks, Rosas > said. > > Hispanic activist Ozzie Venzor said that is illegal and he will > consult with a labor attorney on behalf of the workers. > > "They feel it is unjust to be let go and to have to go to an > agency" to regain their jobs, said Venzor. "They will lose all > their benefits." > > (Copyright 1997) > > _____via IntellX_____ > {A3:SanDiegoUnionTribune-0807.00008} 8/7/97 > > > > In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. Be PART of the solution -- People Against Racist Terror/ PO Box 1055/Culver City CA 90232-1055/310-288-5003/ Order our journal "Turning the Tide." mnovickttt-AT-igc.org Free Mumia Abu Jamal! Free All POW's and Political Prisoners! Abolish the Racist Death Penalty! --- from list aut-op-sy-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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