ABOVE: Local No 1 Grain Millers and Teamsters Local 26 union members join forces in picketing outside Teasdale Latin Foods in Hoopeston.
It was back on Sunday, June 1st that Local No 1 Grain Millers went on strike against Teasdale Latin Foods in Hoopeston. With the strike nearing the two week mark, one thing to mention is the picketing support Local No 1 has received from Teamsters Local 26. Another key item is that according to Local No 1 spokesperson Pat Overlander; it was on Tuesday, June 10th that strikers received an e-mail, rather than any voice contact or person contact, that within 48 hours Teasdale would begin hiring permanent replacement workers.
Speaking to Overlander Thursday morning at the strike’s home base camp southeast of 2nd and Washington Street, he stated that any replacement workers coming in so far seem to be driving from out of town. But within Hoopeston, support for the strike has been strong. Overlander also says that any comment from Teasdale that this is an economic strike is incorrect. He says it’s more over working hours and lack of willingness to bargain.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: They do have people coming in, but they’re not local people. I don’t know where they’re coming in from. What the company’s telling them and what we’re dealing with is two different things. They think we’re on a different kind of strike than what we are on strike for. We are on an unfair labor practice strike. From the very get-go they were not very good at bargaining with us. The town has been great. I can’t say enough for it. This is a great community to live in.
CIMG has placed a call to Teasdale Latin Foods.
