Local Concrete Workers Demand Dignity, Respect
Friday, August 27, 2010(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
More than 100 concrete workers and community allies descended on
the Consolidated Forensic Laboratory construction site at 6th Street, SW
yesterday morning, protesting contractor Southland Concrete’s “unsafe
practices, unfair layoffs and poor working conditions.” The workers are
organizing with the United Construction Workers (UCW) union, but allege that
they have been fired, intimidated and harassed by Southland Concrete for their
pro-union activity. “Southland fired me for wanting to join a union and have a
voice on the job,” said Misael Rivera (r), a construction worker with over 18
years experience. “They are trying to stop me from speaking out about the
daily abuse, poor pay and horrible working conditions – they even offered me
double my old salary if I promised to stop organizing.” At-Large DC Councilmember Phil
Mendelson – who is up for re-election in the September 14 primary, and is
expected to be at Saturday's labor-to-labor
walk – told Union City, “I’m out here today to show my
support for these workers who have the right to organize and deserve to be
treated with respect and dignity.” The protestors rallied for over an hour,
shaking rattle-cans and waving signs that read, “We are not disposable” and
“United for a better future!” Rivera added, “The only solution to our
problem is to stand united together and organize to end these injustices- we
refuse to be intimidated any longer!” Click here to watch
video footage of the protest on YouTube – report/photo
by Adam Wright