Migrant workers who toil in the vegetable packing plants of south central Minnesota say they are facing job losses and other illegal discrimination when they organize to improve working conditions and wages.

Workers employed at the Chiquita Processed Foods plant in Owatonna spoke at the Resource Center of theAmericas Dec. 17 about their efforts to get hot water in their housing, find day care for their children and gain other necessities. They work 12-hour shifts, six to seven days a week, canning peas, corn, green beans and pumpkin.

'These are very basic demands,' said Victor Contreras, a migrant agricultural worker for 17 years and an organizer for Centro Campesino, a migrant worker organization. Many have worked at Chiquita for as long as 13 years and deserve decent living conditions, he said.

Each year, between 20,000 and 35,000 migrant agricultural workers come to the state to work in farm fields and food processing plants, according to research done by the University of Minnesota. Workers, sometimes accompanied by their families, spend April through November in Minnesota, return to southern Texas or northern Mexico for several months, then go north again, often to work for the same companies.

Seasonal workers
Chiquita employs scores of migrant workers on a seasonal basis. While full-time, year-round employees at the facility are represented by a union, United Food & Commercial Workers Local 442, the seasonal workers are not. In 2000, they decided to form their own organization, Centro Campesino, to advocate for improvements both in the workplace and in the migrant housing camps.

Through Centro Campesino, workers have made some gains - they now have hot water in their houses and a storm shelter to go to if a tornado is imminent. But they also have encountered retaliation from the company because of their organizing activity, Contreras said. Specifically, many have lost their jobs.

'During the 2000 season, 60 members of Centro Campesino worked for Chiquita,' said Brendan Cummins, an attorney representing the group. The company 'rehired only 17 of them for the 2001 season.'

Cummins assisted Centro Campesino in filing a charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging Chiquita is violating the workers' rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

NLRB investigates
The NLRB interviewed eight workers in Owatonna on Dec. 17 and the investigation is continuing. Some of the workers traveled from Texas and Mexico specifically to testify. If the charge is found to be valid, the NLRB would issue a complaint stating that Chiquita has committed an unfair labor practice and would seek a remedy, such as rehiring the workers.

'We came here, even though we are afraid' of retaliation, said Chiquita worker Veronica Ruiz. The members of Centro Campesino said they view the NLRB charges as just one step in a long campaign.

'There is something they (the company) cannot steal from us - the will and the faith to struggle for our rights,' said Contreras.

Representatives of unions, religious organizations and an elected official, Rep. Jim Davnie, D-Minneapolis, spoke in support of the Owatonna workers at the Resource Center gathering.

'It is time we put aside our differences and embrace our similarities,' said Bill Pearson, president of UFCW Local 789 in South St. Paul. 'Everywhere we look, workers are being taken advantage of.' He then led a chant of 'Si se puede!' (Yes, we can!)