Some Murray's workers want election for new union UFCW vs IUJAT

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090415/NEWS/90414057/-1/NEWS

Controversy at chicken plant

By Victor Whitman
Posted: April 15, 2009 - 2:00 AM
by victor whitman
Times Herald-Record

SOUTH FALLSBURG — Around the Murray’s Chicken plant, the predominantly Spanish speaking workers call their union “La Union Patron,” the bosses’ union.

That’s because, says factory worker Rosa Turcios, the International Union of Journeymen & Allied Trades hasn’t done much for a decade other than take $16 a month from their paychecks.

Turcios, a 59-year-old native of El Salvador, says she’s earned a cumulative raise of 20 cents in six years. She now makes $7.35 an hour. And working conditions have never been good, she said.
“(Workers) want a change,” Turcios said, speaking through an interpreter at her apartment, a short walk from the factory on Main Street in South Fallsburg. “They want to feel good about their life.”
She and other workers are attempting to organize with The United Food and Commercial Workers International.

The UFCW claims more than half an estimated 250 workers signed a petition asking the National Labor Relations Board to call an election, where workers would have a choice between unions, or opt for no union representation.

“These workers deserve to have wages and benefits to help them support their families,” UFCW Spokesman Corey Owens said. “We have workers that have been there for more than a decade and make less than $8 an hour. That is less than Burger King.”

Owner Murray Bresky said he couldn’t comment on this dispute.

“To me it doesn’t matter what union takes over,” Bresky said. “It is up to the employees.”
The IUJAT union and Murray’s signed a memorandum of understanding in February for a new contract. By federal law, this agreement stops an election on union representation for the three-year duration of the contract, says Mark Reader, organizing director of the IUJAT.

FULL story at link.