Bolstered by Steelworkers locked out by Kaiser Aluminum in Spokane, 350 workers, their families, and supporters paraded past Valley Manufactured Housing (VMH), through the downtown district, and then to a nearby park for a solidarity rally and barbecue.

As the marchers walked, many onlookers clapped their hands in sympathy, and several young people watching from the sidewalk joined in as they passed by. The route was punctuated by chants in both Spanish and English of "Si, Se Puede" (Yes, we can!), and "No contract, No peace," and many others as the bullhorns were passed between the strikers, who are mostly Mexican immigrants, and the Steelworkers.

Also marching were meat packers who had struck Iowa Beef Processors (IBP) last summer; small delegations from several lumber mills in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, organized by the Western Council of Industrial Workers (WCIW); fruit packers from area warehouses; and students from MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Atzlan).

Frank Rivera, who has worked at VMH for six years, marched with his three children. He thought the solidarity brought by the Kaiser steelworkers "was fantastic." "This march," he continued, "should be a big help. It has already sent a message to the company." He was referring to VMH's decision a few days prior to the march to reopen negotiations with the union.

The strikers are members of WCIW Local 2739, which is affiliated with the Carpenters union. They struck Valley Manufactured Housing August 25 for better wages, an end to mandatory overtime, and against higher medical premiums the company was demanding. The company refused to increase the wage rates, which start at only $6.65 an hour and top out at $8.50. Medical insurance costs about $150 per month.

Since the strike began, 20 to 30 members crossed the picket lines, leaving about 135 out on strike. The company has hired about 150 replacement workers, most of whom are also Mexican immigrants. Since October, it has refused to negotiate with the union. VMH is one of the largest private employers in the lower Yakima Valley.

The union itself is relatively new. The workers at VMH were inspired by the victory of the United Farm Workers union in winning its first contract in Washington state at Chateau Ste. Michelle vineyards in Sunnyside in 1995. The VMH workers went on strike at that time without a union, but joined the Carpenters union during the strike, winning recognition from VMH and a contract.

Marcos Valencia, who has worked there for seven years, hoped there would be more such actions. He didn't know if they would win this battle, but was dead set on taking VMH down with the strike. "I hope we break them," he said, "so that next time, they'll take us more seriously."

The action was supported by the Washington State Labor Council of the AFL-CIO, which sent out a letter to all its affiliated unions announcing the April 8 march and asking for donations for the WCIW Food Bank.

Several of those who participated in the action talked about important battles shaping up in the Yakima Valley, a major agricultural center in Washington state. Workers at Boise Cascade lumber mill in Yakima explained that their contract, along with all other Boise Cascade contracts in the Northwest, is up June 1. They think a fight is likely.

Activists were preparing for a fight to win higher wages for farmworkers during the short cherry-picking season that starts around June 1, and to defend immigrant rights. They were promoting a "March for Amnesty and Just Wages" on June 4 in Pasco, Washington. Warehouse workers spoke of an organizing drive by the Teamsters union at Yakima Fruit in Wapato; a union election is set for May 4, they said.

The steelworkers stopped in Sunnyside for the march after protesting at the state legislature in Olympia for extended unemployment benefits for the locked-out Kaiser workers. Although the bill authorizing the extension died in the Washington House of Representatives, they were keen on keeping up the struggle.

"Labor is a sleeping giant, and they've been poking a stick at us too long," exclaimed Clint Wells, a crane operator for 22 years at Kaiser's Mead plant in Spokane. "I'm looking forward to going to more labor actions" like the one today in Sunnyside, he said.

Three days after the march, VMH met with union negotiators for just five minutes, enough time to tell the union that it had nothing new to offer the strikers. Company attorney Ryan Edgley told the Yakima Herald-Republic, "The company is convinced that for the type of workers we have, we're offering a reasonable proposal."

Scott Breen in a member of International Association of Machinists, Local 751 in Seattle.  
 
 
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