Over 300 community activists and Building Trades supporters from as far away as San Diego packed the corner at 10th Street and San Pedro in Los Angeles. The crowd began to assemble in the mostly industrial area at 5am. The event was billed as a Stop The Violence Rally in reaction to recent attacks on construction organizers. Two large inflatable rats were set up. Signs and flags reading, “Stop The Violence” were distributed. Richard Slawson Executive-Secretary of the Los Angeles and Orange County Building & Construction Trades Council addressed the crowd by megaphone while standing in the back of a pick-up truck. A Declaration of March 14, 2008 was distributed which read as follows;
“Hirex Construction and the Developer on the 10th & San Pedro Project, will not get away with Violence against Union members.”
Everyone in the 16 million member strong, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, will contribute money, manpower and votes to make it absolutely clear that no business owner will escape the consequences of any physical harm done to a worker, Union representative or organizer.
On March 14th , the Hirex Construction Company, allowed its job site bosses to physically attack six Union Business Representatives, Organizers and members who were using legal rights to inform the public that there are workers being underpaid on the 10th & San Pedro Project.
Legal Action will be taken to the full extent of the law to shut down this project and fine and jail those responsible for the physical attacks on out Brothers of the Labor Movement.
The actions by Hirex management employees are an example of the lengths that business will go to exact the last drop of excess profit from their workers. It looks as though nothing has changed in more than 200 years of labor’s work for fair labor rights. Business is continuing to resort to the basest tactics, even violence, to gain indecent profits gouged from workers pay, benefits and conditions.
“Hirex Construction and the Developer on the 10th & San Pedro Project, will not get away with Violence against Union members.”
Everyone in the 16 million member strong, American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, will contribute money, manpower and votes to make it absolutely clear that no business owner will escape the consequences of any physical harm done to a worker, Union representative or organizer.
On March 14th , the Hirex Construction Company, allowed its job site bosses to physically attack six Union Business Representatives, Organizers and members who were using legal rights to inform the public that there are workers being underpaid on the 10th & San Pedro Project.
Legal Action will be taken to the full extent of the law to shut down this project and fine and jail those responsible for the physical attacks on out Brothers of the Labor Movement.
The actions by Hirex management employees are an example of the lengths that business will go to exact the last drop of excess profit from their workers. It looks as though nothing has changed in more than 200 years of labor’s work for fair labor rights. Business is continuing to resort to the basest tactics, even violence, to gain indecent profits gouged from workers pay, benefits and conditions.
The Declaration ended with “Profiteers will not win. Workers will win!”
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1 comment:
The core issue at this Hirex jobsite isn't union vs. non-union. It's more about dangerous jobsite working conditions.
This jobsite has a multilevel parking structure without barracades for fall protection. It also has several trenches filled with verticle rebar which have no endcaps.
Any jobsite which has obvious visible hazards are a priority concern for all public service professionals. Often there are more profound hidden hazards in faulty equipment, inferior power tools, electrical hazards and sanitation issues.
Ongoing support for this rally continues to grow. Ironworkers Local Union 433 and IBEW Local Union 11 have brought daybooks to this event to mutually support volunteers. There is no mandatory picket duty at this event.
Beyond strategic military and law enforcement tactics against dangerous criminals, violence never resolves anything. The viscious acts of these Hirex managers and employees are manifestly intolerable.
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