Temporary workers at Hot Stuff Foods organize and win

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4038

9 May 2009

SHAKOPEE - Temporary workers from two temporary agencies working at Lettieri’s, a Shakopee factory owned by Hot Stuff Foods Inc., have organized and won an important victory over discrimination and unfair pay, the Workers Interfaith Network announced.

Workers at Hot Stuff Foods approached WIN in early March reporting that for years they had experienced discrimination, humilliation and a lack of respect from supervisors. Workers complained of little to no wage increases, that most workers had no vacation or paid holidays, and that workers would often arrive to the plant on time and be forced to wait for up to two hours for broken machines to be fixed without being paid for their time.

“Our supervisor would yell at us, tell us to work faster and harder, humilliate us. But we are the ones that are making this company rich. Their own website says they have a sales revenue of $130 million, thanks to our work,” said Oscar Sanchez.

Workers met with WIN organizers and determined their demands. Among them were a fair wage increase, an end to discrimination, vacation and paid holidays and to be paid for all hours worked. Workers developed a petition which was supported and signed by the majority of temporary workers at the plant.

After delivering the petition to Lettieri’s management and sending it to Hot Stuff Foods corporate headquarters, almost immediately, workers began to be paid for all hours worked and the most eggregious discrimination stopped, WIN said. For two months, workers and WIN continued to organize workers at the plant and support in the community.

FULL story at link.