Local 760 Wins Huge Victory for Employees of KDNA Radio (Teamsters and the Farm Worker Community United, a Recipe for Success at Local 760!)
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Local 760 Wins Huge Victory for Employees of KDNA Radio (Teamsters and the Farm Worker Community United, a recipe for success at Local 760!) September 9, 2010 marks the end of a hard fought two year battle between Local 760 and KDNA Radio, a Spanish Language Public Radio Station. In the end, all of the workers who had been wrongly terminated by the management of KDNA Radio, were reinstated to their jobs and are now working under their first Union Contract. The fight that Teamsters Local 760 and the employees of KDNA won is only part of a larger fight that started long before the employees decided to stand up, fight for what is right and form a Union. In the late 1960’s and the early 1970’s, many sectors of American communities and movements were struggling to identify themselves. President John Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. were assassinated. President Lyndon Johnson declared a war on poverty and the formation of the 501 organization (C-3’s) was nationally institutionalized. During this same time period, an unprecedented number of farm workers began migrating to the United States in search of the American Dream. What they found instead was slave labor in the fields, horrible working conditions and very low pay. Children were forced to work like adults and the average life expectancy of the farm worker was 38 years. The growers would spray dangerous pesticides on the crops in order to expedite growing time and increase fruit size. Many farm workers faced serious health problems and many died from pesticide exposure. These conditions prompted the formation of the United Farm Workers Union, led by Cesar Chavez. These were confusing times for our country and for Labor. America had never encountered the cultural differences and the commitment of farm workers in their struggle for a public identity. To their credit the United Farm Workers Union waged a tremendous campaign against the powerful growers of California’s Coachella Valley. They were successful in winning contracts and changing laws to protect farm workers from dangerous pesticide exposure. KDNA-FM RADIO NETWORK THRIVES During these tumultuous times, a group of community activists in Granger, Washington formed a 501 (C-3) organization called Northwest Chicano Radio Network, which was later changed to Northwest Communities Education Center (NCEC). They established the Nations first full-time Spanish Language Public Radio Station, KDNA 91.9 FM, fondly referred to as the Voice of the Farm Worker. KDNA-FM began to use the airwaves to educate, organize, and mobilize their community to join in the struggle of the United Farm Workers for dignity and respect in the fields. The United Farm Workers Union had become more than just a union; it had become a call to action for Latinos across the nation to become involved in the struggle for social change. With a skeleton crew of 12, KDNA-FM became part of a national radio association satellite network, receiving numerous local, regional and national awards for their service to the farm worker community. FOCUS CHANGES AND WORKERS SEEK HELP In 2005, with the help of Labor, $3,000,000 was raised for the construction of a new community service center which also housed KDNA-FM. However, over the years the voice of the farm worker radio station, like many non-profit organizations, began to lose its way. The focus of the organization began to look more toward meeting the financial challenges of running a non-profit than in organizing the community. During the 1990’s, conservatives began receiving appointments to positions on the Board of Directors and in 2008, the farm worker community was faced with the reality that their beloved radio station was now controlled by individuals who were anti-union and anti-immigrant. The founder of the organization retired and a new Director was hired — one who didn’t value the decades of commitment of its employees. LOCAL 760 RESPONDS AND STRUGGLE ENSUES The workers approached several unions for representation and were told that they were too small of a unit, and that it just didn’t make financial sense to represent them. Juan Ozuna, a 37-year employee, recalled: “Thank God for the Teamsters; when we approached Local 760 Business Agent Bob Koerner he didn’t ask how many we were. He asked, ‘Do you guys need help?’ We all signed cards the following night. This is a historical campaign that never would have happened if it were not for the leadership of the Teamsters Union. And Local 760’s Secretary-Treasurer John Parks is a visionary with a big heart and great staff.” The following day the new Director fired the first of 8 employees “for not standing up all the way when shaking hands.” This set off a two-year campaign led by Teamsters Local 760. Shortly thereafter, the workers went out on strike over an unfair labor practice charge. The Director, with the support of the Board of Directors, hired scabs to replace the striking workers. The community support for the workers and their appreciation for the Teamsters was overwhelming; at times there were 200 community members on the picket line. In the end, a return to work agreement was signed, which included arbitration rights for the unjustly fired workers. The workers returned to work, but the new Director and the Board of Directors began to retaliate by firing all but two of the employees. In response, Local 760 Organizing Director Juan Orozco and Business Agent Bob Koerner led 223 community members on a courageous three-day occupation of the Northwest Communities Education Center building. The majority of those participating in the occupation were senior citizens, women and children. In the end, three grandmothers were arrested, along with Roberto Maestas, a Civil Rights leader and founder of Seattle’s El Centro de La Raza, who recently passed away. This campaign included a multi-pressure point strategy that included the Washington State Labor Council, politicians, community-based organizations, and community members, all uniting with Local 760 to support 11 workers and save a vital resource that serves thousands of families in the Yakima Valley. The Station’s underwriters pulled their financial support and encouraged the organization to settle their union and community dispute. The new Director was fired and a contract was signed, and the scabs were terminated. On September 9, 2010, all of the workers were returned to work and are now working under their first Union Contract. Moreover, this campaign will surely have far reaching effects on workers throughout the Yakima Valley seeking to become union members. COMMENTS: • Founder of El Centro de La Raza, Roberto Maestas: “Teamsters Local 760’s unwavering support for our community saved a vital, historic institution from internal destruction. The statewide Latino Community owes a huge debt of gratitude to John Parks (also known as Juan Parques), the Local’s Executive Board, and most importantly to the thousands of Local 760 members that make up the Union; and also to Juan Orozco and Bob Koerner for their strategic planning and fearless organizing tactics.” • Special Assistant to the President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, Jeff Johnson: “The Union/Community victory at KDNA is a huge win not only for the 11 workers but for increasing Union Density and Community Power in the Yakima Valley in the near future. Si se puede!” • Teamsters Local 760 Secretary-Treasurer, John Parks: “We did it because it’s the right thing to do. Wherever there are mistreated workers that choose to become Teamsters — that’s where we’ll be. The Community has been extremely supportive and we have received a great deal of assistance from Jeff John- son of the WSLC, and Roberto Maestas of El Centro de la Raza. The love, commitment, and dedication from all who came to- gether in support of these workers has been an extraordinary ex- perience.” .