Actions & Updates
Warehouse Workers United Featured in the IE Weekly
June 11, 2009
Warehouse Workers United is featured as the cover story in the current IE Weekly. Check out the story!
Warehouse Workers United Shutdown the Inland Empire Warehouse District!
May 28, 2009
Hundreds of warehouse workers and their allies blocked the street at Etiwanda and Mission and shut down the most important intersection in the Inland Empire’s warehouse district. This intersection is the central point through which virtually every truck headed to a warehouse must travel. After blocking oncoming traffic, a forklift was placed in the middle of the intersection and then surrounded by warehouse workers, clergy, area students, and local supporters. Read the press release for more details.
Check out some of the press coverage below (and in our News section):
And on KPCC Southern Calfornia Radio:
Our Fight Continues: May 28th
Monday, May 18, 2009
Warehouse Workers United will stage a major protest in what has become an escalating campaign. The action will culminate in a dramatic act of nonviolent civil disobedience in the heart of the largest concentration of warehouse space on the planet, issuing an urgent national call for dignity and respect of the rights of warehouse workers.
Thursday, May 28
12noon - Fontana Office
16730 Arrow Hwy., Fontana (Juniper & Arrow)
Download the flyer here & in Spanish.
Warehouse Workers Shut Down Walmart Warehouse in San Bernardino County
Friday, May 15, 2009
There is a growing movement of workers fighting for justice and good jobs in the warehouses of California's Inland Empire. On May 14th, they took the fight to America's largest private employer: Walmart.
On May 14th, warehouse workers, clergy, community members, and area students staged a nonviolent civil disobedience outside a Walmart warehouse in San Bernardino County. The protest ended with the arrest of 7 people, including 4 clergy members, who had literally put their bodies on the line by blocking the truck entrance to the warehouse.
Over 200 people gathered in front of the Walmart warehouse, carrying signs with messages such as Warehouse Workers Want the Freedom to Form a Union. They were protesting Walmarts vicious anti-worker and anti-union policies and highlighting the need for the Employee Free Choice Act. Past attempt by workers at this warehouse to form a union were thwarted by managements harsh tactics of fear and intimidation.
The Valley Boulevard warehouse is completely dedicated to products destined for Southern California Walmart stores. The facility serves Walmart stores and supplies a significant percent of non-food goods to Walmart stores in the region. The facility operates 7 days a week, with three shifts running 24 hours a day.
The warehouse workers of the Inland Empire are fighting back against the national retailers who dominate the goods movement industry in what is the largest concentration of warehouse space on the planet and the distribution hub of the new global economy. These are the workers who need the Employee Free Choice Act because the only hope to improve these jobs is to allow them the freedom to choose to form a union free from fear and intimidation.
The Inland Empire has some of the highest rates of foreclosures and unemployment in the country, but the main industry of the area, warehousing for national retailers, is built on bad, low paying jobs. Most of these jobs are through temp agencies and, in addition to low pay and no benefits these jobs do not allow workers to have any job security. Jobs in the Inland Empire need to be good jobs with a living wage and affordable health care; this is the best way the region has to pull itself out of the Great Recession.
WWU on Univision 34
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Next Action: Come out on May 14th!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Come out and support Warehouse Workers United for our next big protest against the retail giants in the Inland Empire. If you missed our last action, you're not going to want to miss this one!
Thursday, May 14th
12 Noon - Fontana Office
16730 Arrow Hwy., Fontana (Juniper & Arrow)
Download the flyer here & in Spanish.
Pacifica One Hour Evening Newscast
Monday, May 4, 2009
Warehouse Workers United was featured on the Pacifica One Hour Evening Newscast on Pacifica stations across the United States. Listen to the KPFA News Show below (the WWU segment starts at 37:49).
WWU on KPFK's Suplemento Comunitario
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Listen to warehouse worker Olga Romero and Warehouse Workers United community organizer Esther Portillo on KPFK's Suplemento Comunitario.
http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/mp3/kpfk_090428_210100radioinsurgencia.mp3
WWU Sit-In on KPFA Evening News
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Warehouse Workers United sit-in was featured on the KPFA evening news. Listen to the show below. (the Warehouse Workers United segment is at 18 minutes, 8 seconds.)
WWU Sit-In on WBAI's Building Bridges
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Warehouse Workers United and the recent sit-in was featured on WBAI's Building Bridges. Listen to warehouse worker and sit-in participant Isabel Castelan and Warehouse Workers United community organizer and sit-in participant Esther Portillo, along with Change to Win's Communications Director Greg Denier, discuss the sit-in and the campaign for warehouse workers in the Inland Empire.
Warehouse Workers For Retail Giants Rally.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A rally by Warehouse Workers United turned into a sit-in a few days ago as efforts to organize the workers who move and store goods for America’s retail giants heats up. Doug Cunningham reports. Click here to listen: http://www.laborradio.org/files/lo/winhead042109.mp3
WWU on WBAI's Building Bridges
Monday, April 20, 2009
Warehouse Workers United's Esther Portillo and warehouse worker Isabel Castelan were guests on the WBAI radio program, Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report today. Click here to listen to the show: http://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/090420_190001bbridges.MP3
May Day March
Monday, April 20, 2009
Human Rights for All
Friday, May 1st, 2009 - 4pm
March begins at Cesar Chavez Community Center
2060 University Ave., Riverside, CA
March to Riverside City Hall
Principles of Unity:
- Legalization
- NO Raids and NO Separation of Families
- DREAM Act
- Employee Free Choice Act
- Good Jobs for Everyone
- Cultural Unity
Download the flyer & in Spanish
Warehouse Worker Talks About Her Arrest at Sit-In
Friday, April 17, 2009
Listen to Isabel Castelan, a warehouse worker, talk about why she took part in the sit-in and was arrested yesterday. Castelan said she she believes that there should be changes and was proud to take part in the demonstration.
Warehouse Workers Sit-In on Temp Agency
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Warehouse Workers Tell Walmart: “Don’t Temp Out the American Dream”
Thirteen supporters of Warehouse Workers United sat-in at a temporary employment service office to protest the unfair corporate dealings that prevent them from achieving the American Dream. The group, composed of warehouse workers, students, and community members, along with over 100 supporters picketing in front of the Staffmark office were there to protest the bad jobs in the region’s dominant industry: warehousing. Warehouse jobs could be good, middle class jobs that help lift the Inland Empire out of the current economic crisis, but instead they are bad jobs with low wages and no benefits.
KPFK Evening News
Friday, April 10, 2009
Warehouse Workers United was featured on the KPFK Evening News. Click here to listen. It is the second story on the broadcast.
GRITtv: Inland Empire: Warehouse Workers Organize in California
Thursday April 9, 2009
Workers in one of the few growing parts of our economy --- namely import processing -- are organizing for a union. That would change the foundation of their economic house, they say. Greg Denier of Change to Win and Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research bring us up to date and discuss why warehouse workers may be at the center of the 21st century economy.
from GRITtv with Laura Flanders
WWU on Workers Independent News Radio Show
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Workers Independent News interviewed Warehouse Workers United yesterday for their featured story. This syndicated program aired on 125 stations across the country. You can download and listen to the show here.
Depression in California's Inland Empire Shows Need for Employee Free Choice Act
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
"An economic tragedy is unfolding in the "hub" of the new global economy -- the Inland Empire region of southern California -- and it serves as a living reminder of the need to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to give working Americans a realistic shot at the American Dream."
Click here to read the full article at the Huffington Post
Hundreds and Hundreds Come Out for Cesar Chavez Mass
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Yesterday, on Cesar Chavez Day, warehouse workers were joined by farm workers, clergy members, elected officials, and community members to honor the life and legacy of the great labor leader and community organizer. Hundreds of workers and supporters rallied, marched, and prayed in San Bernardino. Check out our news page for coverage of the event.
WWU on KPFK's Strategy Session
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Warehouse Workers United and the struggle of warehouse workers in the Inland Empire was featured on Strategy Session with Antonio Gonzalez, guest hosted by Chris Newman. The Warehouse Workers United segment is near the end of the program. You can listen to the clip here: http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/mp3/kpfk_090330_200200strategysession.mp3
Hearing With Congressman JOE BACA (D)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, April 9th - 6pm - Center Stage Theater
8463 Sierra Avenue, Fontana, CA 92335
Join us to expose the injustices committed against workers by warehouse companies and temp agencies.
It's time to make our voices heard!
Download the flier here. in Spanish.
WWU Actions Video
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Check out a video of past Warehouse Workers United actions. The warehouse workers of the Inland Empire have been fighting back against the major retailers through major public protests.
Cesar Chavez Day Mass
Monday, March 23, 2009
Honor the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez with Bishop Gerald R. Barnes, the United Farm Workers, and Warehouse Workers United.
Tuesday, March 31st
4:00pm - Prayer Service at St. John's Episcopal Church
1407 N. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino.
5:00pm - Processional from St. John's Episcopal Church to Our Lady of the Rosary
6:00pm - Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary
265 W. 25th St., San Bernardino
Click here to download the flyer for the Cesar Chavez Day Mass
WWU on KPFK's Background Briefing
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Warehouse Workers United was on Ian Masters' Background Briefing with Dr. Harley Shaiken, professor at UC Berkeley, talking about Warehouse Workers United and the fight to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Listen to the show here: http://archive.kpfk.org/parchive/mp3/kpfk_090322_110123bbriefing.mp3.
El Santo for the Warehouse Workers
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Download and post the El Santo flyer!
Economic Crisis and the Logistics Industry
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Today, the University of California Riverside released a report which shows how bad warehouse jobs are and paints a clear picture of the difficulties facing warehouse workers. It also makes it clear that the path to economic recovery in the Inland Empire must include turning warehouse jobs into good middle class jobs with wages that can support a family, health care coverage, and the freedom to choose to join together in a union.
