¡Si Se Puede! 85-car solidarity caravan joins Yakima strikers

UPDATE (May 31, 2020) — An 85-vehicle caravan of supporters of the Yakima Valley fruit warehouse workers on strike for safe conditions and fair pay traveled to Yakima on Saturday to show their solidarity. Larry Brown, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, was among the many who delivered messages of support at the event.

And this from Dulce Gutiérrez, the WSLC’s Union, Community & Naturalization Organizer…

UFCW 21 stands with our fellow food workers & we’re proud to join today’s solidarity caravan with ⁦@WAAFLCIO⁩ from Seattle to #Yakima, where fruit packing workers are still striking for better working conditions during #COVID19. #NoEstanSolos #IStandWithFarmworkers pic.twitter.com/nSWhj4OVcB

— ufcw 21 (@UFCW21) May 30, 2020

YAKIMA — For weeks now, brave workers at multiple fruit-packing warehouses in the Yakima Valley have been on strike for improved workplace safety amid the coronavirus outbreak, greater transparency over COVID-19 cases at their facilities, hazard pay, and freedom from retaliation by their employers.

The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO joins the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, UFCW 21, and the Fair Work Center in urging all to join in a caravan action to support the workers on strike at two fruit packing warehouses. These workers are going into their fourth week on strike and Washington’s labor movement and immigrant rights allies intend to show their support with the Solidarity Caravan to Join Yakima Workers on Strike on Saturday, May 30.

Participants will be meeting in Yakima at Sarg Hubbard Park, 111 S 18th St., at 11 a.m. Those coming from Seattle, including WSLC President Larry Brown, will leave from the parking lot of the QFC, 2707 Rainier Ave S., at 7:30 a.m. to caravan over to Yakima. (Email contact: Ingrid Chapman of the WSLC.) There will be various starting locations for folks attending from the Tri-Cities, Spokane and other locations, so please register here to get the latest details emailed to you. Also, RSVP on the caravan’s Facebook event page.

At Sarg Hubbard Park from 11 to 11:30 a.m., participants will review the demands of the workers and ways to take action before heading over to the strike site locations. There will be speakers representing the workers and their allies who are working in solidarity. We will be providing food and drink for the workers and participants taking action.

Please bring signs of support, personal food and drinks, comfortable clothing for hot weather (the temperature could reach the 90s on Saturday), and your personal face mask. Please also bring donations of water, food and masks for the workers.

Throughout the event, social distancing of 6 feet apart will be maintained, all should plan to carry hand sanitizer and wear masks when in public.