Read CBS Channel 2's coverage of this action.
Paper Source Reneges on Agreement With Community A busload of SLWC members and their supporters marched into Paper Source's Armitage Avenue store to demand that it keep its promise to the workers and the community. In November 2005, Paper Source agreed to terminate its relationship with Ron's Temporary Help Services. However since then, only Paper Source day laborers seeking better working conditions at its warehouse have been terminated.
The dispute began last year when SLWC met with Paper Source owners and management to demand it stop contracting with the Ron's. (Ron's has a history of labor law violations which number in the thousands. Workers employed by Ron's continue to report abusive and illegal actions by the agency.) While owners were initially resistant, they eventually relented after San Lucas demonstrated at Paper Source as part of its Tour Of Shame in August, 2005. SLWC Worker/Leader, Mark Saulys helped lead both actions and participated in negotiations with Paper Source. "We met with the owner, Jim York who at first seemed like a good guy. After agreeing to fire Ron's he said he wanted to get a 'gold star' for doing the right thing." However, since then Paper Source's actions have been marked by half-measures and insincerity. While it did begin to contract with the new SLWC code-complaint agency, it has consistently resisted firing Ron's. Paper Source workers carried on the Ron's work ticket were to be simply transferred to the new agency. Instead Paper Source owner, Jim York insisted that each of his 40 day labor workers be offered a choice of day labor firms. This "choice" was undermined when Paper Source refused to allow the new agency to speak with workers at the warehouse. Instead, each is required to travel to the new agency on their own time to fill out an application. Beyond these impediments, Paper Source workers have been subject to outright coercion by the company. For instance, when workers raised questions about their working conditions and the opportunity to change agencies at a company meeting, two were immediately fired. Guadalupe Ireta worked as a day laborer at Paper Source for over four years. As she stood before the store packed with demonstrators and the press she stated: "Until the 14th of March I was a Paper Source Worker and I was fired because I stood up for my rights and because I asked for respect and dignity in the workplace. All the work that's done in this store, all the production is done by Latina hands. And most of the people that work in the warehouse are Latinas and we ask for dignity and respect because we are human beings and we are hard workers." Elizabeth Ramirez was also terminated following the company meeting. She said: "I asked for a reason why I was fired and I was told that I would not receive any explanation." She added: "I think that many of my co-workers are afraid to speak up and to demand their rights." Were it not for the employers coercive tactics, it's difficult to imagine why any worker would resist changing to the new agency. In addition to complying with the San Lucas code of conduct, the new agency, Viking Labor Services is also offering workers a higher wage and paid holidays. While Paper Source representatives offered no comment at the event, in an email to San Lucas, owner Jim York claimed the company's process of offering its workers a choice of agency represented "democracy" for those workers . |
