ALTOONA, PA.
Strikers demand health care
By Nick
Brisini
Altoona, Pa.
One hundred twenty-five members of Bakery, Confectionary and
Tobacco Local 14 have walked out on strike against the Boyer
Candy Co. here since Oct. 23. The main issue for the
strikers--Black and white, many of them women--is health
benefits. On the picket line, one worker said he has been
working at Boyer for 11 years and in all that time has only
received 45 cents in raises.
The company is out to break the union. Bosses brought in
scab temporary workers through a local temporary-employment
agency--where the workers are also picketing. When strikers
tried to block a truck making a delivery at Boyer, the police
descended. The company has accused the workers of vandalism,
intimidating the scabs and blocking the trucks.
Of course, the workers are fighting for their jobs and
union. They are outraged by the fact that the company is using
scab temporary workers to replace them.
On Oct. 20, a local judge ordered the strikers to keep their
distance from the scabs and from the entrances where trucks
leave. But the judge did not limit the number of picketers who
could be on the line.
The workers say the strike is only beginning. They have
received a lot of support from the community. Teamster truckers
have refused to cross the line.
The working people of Altoona know that the main issue
facing them is the lack of a living wage and full-time jobs;
most work here is in the low-paid service sector. They say they
are also coming to see that the main enemy is corporate
greed.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME :: U.S. NEWS :: WORLD NEWS :: EDITORIALS :: SUBSCRIBE :: DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page