Celia Cisneros never imagined that she would need to harvest grapes for 12 hours a day during a hot California summer, just to make ends meet. But she had no other option — she was fired from her job at a poultry plant in Potterville, Calif.
The reason: she says it’s because she is a union supporter.
Cisneros, 53, a resident of Lindsey, Calif., has worked for almost eight years at this Potterville poultry plant. During all this time, she was known as a model worker. She just wanted decent wages, benefits and respect at work for her and her coworkers.
“When I heard that the UFCW was organizing the plant I was very excited. I knew that this was our chance to improve our standards of living,” Cisneros said. “I began talking to my coworkers about the union. They were supporting the union. I was sure that we were going to win the election.”
Instead, the union lost the election, thanks to the behavior of the company.
“The supervisors began intimidating workers,” said Cisneros. “People became afraid. They didn’t want to lose their jobs and when they arrived to the ballot box the company left them with no other option.”
Celia Cisneros was fired four months later. She found herself desperate with bills to pay, a husband with a chronic disease, and four children to take care of.
The union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). After investigating her case, the NLRB ordered the company to rehire Cisneros.
Cisneros knows that she is not alone, and that many other workers across America have to struggle to join a union. Last month she joined other workers fromdifferent states and traveled to Washington D.C., to show her support for the Employee Free Choice Act by talking directly to her elected officials.
UFCW members and workers visited their members of Congress to share their stories of trying to organize their workplace.
“I came to the nation’s capital to let our elected politicians know that we, the workers, want to see the Employee Free Choice Act become a law,” Cisneros said.
The Employee Free Choice Act is a bill that will help strengthen the economy by making it easier for workers in America to join a union and bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. The Employee Free Choice Act is the best way to expand the nation’s middle class and stimulate the economy.
UFCW stewards around the nation have been supporting the Employee Free Choice Act by urging their coworkers to sign pledge cards and to contact their elected officials.
Their effort has not been in vain. Earlier this year, hundreds of workers met in front of the Capitol to deliver these pledge cards.
And thanks to the effort of hundreds of members who volunteered to support the presidential campaign of President Obama, now the nation has a leader who is on the side of workers.
President Obama has said that“unions are part of the solution.”
But we cannot take anything for granted. It is more critical than ever to support the Employee Free Choice Act.
“We came to the nation’s capital because all of our senators need to know that we are counting on their vote in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act,” said Armando Martinez, a steward from Local 22 in Freemont, N.E.
All stewards should urge their coworkers to contact their U.S. senators and let them know that they are counting on their support.
“Call their office, write a letter, send an e-mail, if you want to visit them personally even better. It is important that senators know that all workers are behind
the Employee Free Choice Act,” Martinez said.
Stewards can find sample letters and find out how to contact their elected officials at www.ufcwforfreechoice.org.
Celia Cisneros’ dream is to have a union at her plant, so she never again has to fear losing her job and being intimidated by her supervisors.
“We are all in this together,” said Cisneros. “The Employee Free Choice Act will give us the freedom to choose a better life by joining a union.”
