Post by crudo on Jul 20, 2006 11:17:45 GMT -5
Union tries to crack nut meeting
By JOHN HOLLAND
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: July 20, 2006, 05:58:19 AM PDT
About 15 union activists attended Wednesday's meeting of the Almond Board of California in Modesto, hoping to state their case for workers at a nutprocessing plant in Sacramento.
The board declined to hear from them, since their complaint was with Blue Diamond Growers, the owner of the plant. The Almond Board does marketing and research for growers and processors throughout the state.
Outside the meeting, held in the Almond Board headquarters atop the DoubleTree Hotel, the activists said Blue Diamond has stood in the way of efforts to unionize workers.
"Right now, our purpose is to let the Almond Board know that the way Blue Diamond is handling this is damaging the image of almonds around the world," said Agustin Ramirez, an organizer for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
The union has been trying since early 2005 to organize the Sacramento plant, which has about 600 employees at its annual peak. Blue Diamond, a cooperative that is the largest handler of the valley's huge almond crop, has a smaller plant in Salida, which has not been targeted by the union.
The activists are seeking a contract that would include a hike in hourly wages — now $11 to $28, according to Blue Diamond. Ann Hurlbut, a sorter who attended the meeting, said many longtime workers are paid at the lower end.
Doug Youngdahl, president and chief executive officer of Blue Diamond, said the cooperative is willing to allow a union election but most employees do not like the idea.
Blue Diamond is not connected with Diamond Foods Inc., where a strike involving a Stockton walnut-processing plant lasted from 1991 to last year.
Bee staff writer John Holland can be reached at 578-2385 or jholland@modbee.com.
By JOHN HOLLAND
BEE STAFF WRITER
Last Updated: July 20, 2006, 05:58:19 AM PDT
About 15 union activists attended Wednesday's meeting of the Almond Board of California in Modesto, hoping to state their case for workers at a nutprocessing plant in Sacramento.
The board declined to hear from them, since their complaint was with Blue Diamond Growers, the owner of the plant. The Almond Board does marketing and research for growers and processors throughout the state.
Outside the meeting, held in the Almond Board headquarters atop the DoubleTree Hotel, the activists said Blue Diamond has stood in the way of efforts to unionize workers.
"Right now, our purpose is to let the Almond Board know that the way Blue Diamond is handling this is damaging the image of almonds around the world," said Agustin Ramirez, an organizer for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
The union has been trying since early 2005 to organize the Sacramento plant, which has about 600 employees at its annual peak. Blue Diamond, a cooperative that is the largest handler of the valley's huge almond crop, has a smaller plant in Salida, which has not been targeted by the union.
The activists are seeking a contract that would include a hike in hourly wages — now $11 to $28, according to Blue Diamond. Ann Hurlbut, a sorter who attended the meeting, said many longtime workers are paid at the lower end.
Doug Youngdahl, president and chief executive officer of Blue Diamond, said the cooperative is willing to allow a union election but most employees do not like the idea.
Blue Diamond is not connected with Diamond Foods Inc., where a strike involving a Stockton walnut-processing plant lasted from 1991 to last year.
Bee staff writer John Holland can be reached at 578-2385 or jholland@modbee.com.