Laid-Off Price Pfister Worker Ends Hunger Strike After Collapse

One of five laid-off Price Pfister workers in the 10th day of a hunger strike collapsed during a street corner Mass outside the company’s factory Saturday.

Victoria Sevilla, 40, was treated at nearby Olive View Hospital and released, doctors said.

After giving her medication for dizziness, headaches, numbness and severe abdominal cramps, doctors urged Sevilla to begin eating pastas, soups and juices.

“I’d like to last until the end, but the doctor said I should stop. I can’t go on any further,” she said in a quiet voice after returning to the strike site. “I did the just thing. It was an experience I passed happy and sad.”

Shortly after dozens of strike supporters gathered for the noon Mass, Sevilla began doubling over from sharp abdominal and chest pains.

As paramedics treated Sevilla, people continued their prayers and hymns in Spanish. The four remaining strikers vowed to continue drinking only water and fruit juice, as they have since Nov. 21.

Price Pfister--the country’s third-largest faucet maker--recently shut down a foundry and nine months ago began laying off employees, shifting most of the jobs to a plant in Mexico.

Felix Hernandez, a Teamsters organizer representing the workers, said the Black & Decker-owned company has offered half a week’s pay and a week’s health benefits coverage for each year worked, up to 26 years. But workers want one week’s pay and two weeks’ health benefits per year worked, up to 30 years.

Company officials could not be reached for comment Saturday, but the company had said cutbacks were necessitated by costly state regulations requiring the firm to reduce the lead content of its faucets.