Labor unrest at Cooper's Findlay tire factory
in Ohio continues as the United Steelworkers
(USW) and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco
Workers and Grain Millers International Union
(BCTGM) are embarking upon a joint project
called, "From Fargo to Findlay: A Journey for
Justice."
Locked out workers from Cooper and the
American Crystal Sugar Co. will be conducting
a road trip from Fargo, N.D. to Findlay “to
focus attention on the most recent wave of
greed-motivated corporate attacks on workers
and their unions,” says USW spokesman Tony
Montana.
Members of the USW and BCTGM will travel more
than 1,000 miles through six states in six
days, participating in rallies, fundraisers
and direct actions with local union members
and allies along the way.
The Journey for Justice begins Feb. 22 with a
rally in Fargo, making stops in Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana before
concluding Feb. 27 in Findlay.
Cooper locked out more than 1,000 workers at
the Findlay plant in November of last year.
More than six months ago, American Crystal
locked out its entire union workforce of some
1,300 sugar beet workers from seven facilities
in Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa despite
making record profits over the past three
years, according to Montana.
“In recent months, thousands of workers
throughout North America have been locked out
of their jobs at Caterpillar, Rio Tinto Alcan,
HealthBridge and elsewhere as employers try to
drive wages and benefits down so that
corporate executives can continue to enjoy
bonuses and other compensation worth millions
of dollars,” he says.
Specific events along the Journey for Justice
route will be announced at the
campaign’s blog.
Workers will be using a variety of social
media to get their message out, including
Twitter and Facebook. Supporters will be able
to attend events in the Twin Cities; Madison,
Wis.; Chicago; and Ft. Wayne, Ind. There will
be opportunities for supporters not along the
route to participate in what organizers hope
will be “a highly interactive week of
solidarity building among working
people.”
For more information, visit www.usw.org.
