2021-09-28 13:06:21

El Milagro Tortilla Workers Walk Out, Demand Fair Wages & Workload Amid Staff Shortage, COVID Deaths

Democracy Now! goes to Chicago for an update on workers at El Milagro tortilla plants who staged a temporary walkout last week to protest low pay, staff shortages and abusive working conditions, including intimidation and sexual harassment.

El Milagro claims an ongoing tortilla shortage is due to supply chain issues, but organizers say the company has lost staff due to their poor treatment of workers, including their mishandling of the pandemic, resulting in dozens of infections and five deaths.

Workers gave El Milagro management until this Wednesday to respond to their demands.

“The company, instead of offering better wages and hiring more people, is just cranking up the machines,” says Jorge Mújica, strategic campaigns organizer at Arise Chicago, a community group that helps people fight workplace exploitation.

Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. Our reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. 

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Chicago Coronavirus Covid COVID-19 Economy El Milagro El Milagro Tortilla plants Pandemic United States Workers Treatment Workers' Rights

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