Countywide : Supporters Help Feed Drywall Strikers

Southern California drywall workers who walked off their jobs nearly two months ago in an effort to organize a union received support Friday as a newly formed coalition of union and religious organizations sent a caravan of food to the strikers.

The Orange County Workers for Justice and Democracy donated more than 5,000 pounds of beans and rice to strike headquarters at the carpenters union hall in Orange.

The coalition consists of more than 25 Orange County religious, labor and community leaders and plans to continue to support any union organizing efforts by workers, said Marianne Hart, president of District 10 of the United Electrical Radio & Machine Workers of America.

Hart said the coalition formed last month in a direct response to the drywall strike. Friday’s food donations were the coalition’s first action.

“It’s been our experience that when workers try to strike without any safety network in place they can face serious consequences,” she said. “This coalition is so diverse we are hoping to be able to meet the needs of the strikers and help them both in support, like this food drive, and in education and lobbying the Legislature.”

The Orange County Workers for Justice and Democracy include leaders from the Orange County Peace and Justice Coalition, Los Amigos of Anaheim, the Unitarian Church of Orange County, Orange County Veterans for Peace and Hotel & Employees Union Local 681 among others.

Angela Keefe, president of the hotel and employees local, said unions have learned from the efforts of the striking drywall workers. “We’ve learned a lot from their just taking to the streets and demanding a union,” she said. “All they really need now is a formal name--they already are union.”

The striking drywall workers, complaining that they have not had a pay raise in 10 years, have been demonstrating at construction sites around Southern California.

In early July, more than 150 strikers were arrested by sheriff’s deputies at a Mission Viejo construction site. Authorities said the men were trespassing and had also forced six non-striking drywall workers off the job site. Charges against many of the strikers were later dropped, while others pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Despite legal entanglements, unemployment and personal sacrifice, the strikers say they are going to continue until their union is recognized.

“We are not going to stop,” said Jesus Gomez, a spokesman for the striking workers. “We are gaining support every day from other unions and coalitions. It’s a sign that we will win.”

About 100 people were at the carpenters’ union hall Friday as the coalition brought in the donated food. The new shipment of food was quickly unloaded. Gomez said it will be divided into four equal parts and sent to striking workers in Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

Pedro Gonzaga of Santa Ana was at the hall with his wife, Benita Lomeli. Both said it is donations from groups like the new coalition that is keeping them and their two small children fed.

“I was very surprised when other groups started helping us,” Gonzaga said through an interpreter. “When this is over and we have a union we will never forget those people who helped us.”