L.A. caravan heads to Boron with supplies for locked-out mineworkers

Representatives from several unions gathered at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday morning to escort two big rigs filled with food and supplies to workers in Boron locked out of the largest open-pit mine in California.

Organizers were taking about $32,000 worth of dry goods -- pasta, rice, beans and other essentials -- and 500 American flags to the Kern County community, union representatives said. They planned to distribute the food and personal items after driving to the Rio Tinto Borax mines and then rallying at the local union office.

Mineworkers have been locked out since Jan. 31 after the employee union refused to ratify a new labor contract.

About 600 workers are expected to receive the supplies, said Glen Arnodo, staff director at the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

Two van loads of carwash workers joined longshoremen, teachers and construction workers at the stadium parking lot as Connie Leyva, president of Local 1428 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, looked over the supply-filled big rigs.

“We want the workers to know that they’re not alone,” Leyva said. “The union stands behind their workers and we’re here for the long haul.”

-- Amina Khan

Photo: Tori Galloway, 4, of Boron, looks at the people gathered at Dodger Stadium for a caravan to the mining town to deliver food and supplies. Her grandfather, Bill Galloway, works at the Rio Tinto Borax mine, where workers have been locked out since Jan. 31 after the employee union refused to ratify a new labor contract. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

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Comments

[Food for the Foolish]

Your not going to win a losing battle, to many people out of work. And we all know your gene pool is not the greatest.

[Thomas Machuca Calderon]

I support the American families from this small town and the I have seen what it like to work in a mine where grandfather,fathers,son and daughters all have work in a mine and now this UK want to remove the welfare of this small town that BS.
AHO

[Absolutely Vic]

Food For The Foolish,

You are a heartless monster. My heart goes out to the workers and I wish them the best. Oh, and learn to spell.

[Ned]

Good thing they took all those flags. They make have to eat them pretty soon.

[to bad]

cut off your nose to spite your face. guess what, no matter what your union says, you are still out of work with no future options to return. are you happy now?

[Derrick Lee]

Im glad that people can joke about something like this, I will be sure to save my laughter for when you family falls on their ass... God Bless this small town, and ALL the families involved. I pray that an American company will one day own this mine, I am tired of watching my fellow Americans lose their jobs and lives to the hands of foriegners.........

[Proud Local 30 Wife!]

Shame on you for assuming anything about this town! It is ignorant people like you, (Food for the Foolish) that are benefiting from our struggles here. We just want a contract that follows OUR government's labor laws, not England’s or some random third world country. In the US, people are allowed to state their opinions; I accept that... now let me state my own.

How do you like having weekends off? No child labor? Pensions? Safety in the workplace? Vacation pay? All of those things brought to YOU courtesy of UNIONS!!!

You are an idiot! How do you know how our gene pool is? Have you ever been here? Have you talked to the people from here? Let me guess.... NO! It’s very funny that you threw in the gene pool comment... because you have nothing intelligent to say!

[Meranda Brown]

Why do people have to be so mean. I hope that the people who feel the need to say things like that on here get what they deserve . Thanks for the great article L.A. Times...I also think if you want to say mean things be willing to share your name stand up for what you believe in.

Meranda Brown

[Sissy]

Food for the Foolish you need to educate yourself about what is going on. For your information These AMERICANS 560 of them were told they can't work by a FOREIGN company!

[An American]

This is to The person that calls himself " Food For The Foolish". I have this to say this to you the people in this town are the same as all around this great country we live in. Everyone has choices to make in their life and these hard working people are doing what this country is founded on and that is standing up for what they feel is right and just. To your comment on the "Shallow Gene pool" the people in this small town is the same type of people that make up the military and they seem to protect your right to disrespect people you have never meet or have even been in their situation. So the next time you feel like you need to be rude look in the mirror and see if the comment still applies.

[ILWU Miner]

The "Food For Foolish" character needs to re-examine his life philosophy.

What rock has he been under during the last twenty years while greedy corporate boards and CEOs receive undeserved bonuses and the vanishing American middle class is outsourced or demoted to a minimum wage lifestyle? Middle class America has always been the strength of our nation, and unions have helped maintain a vibrant middle class.

For some reason he belittles these patriots by poking fun at their "gene pool." Unlike someone from his gene pool, at least they know the difference between too and to.

[Food for the Foolish]

First of all ! Get your stories straight, these people were offered a damn fair contract, in today's economic times. They were offered 2% raises each year for the duration of the contract, a reasonable medical package, 4,000 dollar sign on bonus. And for the ones getting ready to retire, a early retirement package worth 10 to 40 thousand bonus, depending on the years of service.
The only thing that is holding these foolish workers from signing the contract is they're fear of a competitive workforce, where promotion and advancement is based on skill and work output. Not by the years of seniorty! For all you workers who work in the real world, how would you like to get passed up on a promotion you were highly qualified for by a lazy fat janitor who has never put a effort to advance anywhere in the company simply of because of the seniorty rule, and now because he wants a cushy job in the last 2 years of service. You are the one being passed up. How is that fair for the american worker. As for the gene pool comment. That was simply a humorous jab at the inevitable oncoming demise of the unions, for you ILWU local 30 guys where is your union now to help, they let you down in 1974 and theyr'e doing it again. That is why the product made by Rio Tinto is moving thru the docks....

[Vickie]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful AMERICANS that came out yesterday and gave their time and support to all of our AMERICAN WORKERS! without people like you in the world,all that would be left are scabbbzzz!
Thankx again soooo Much YOU ARE GREAT AMERICANS
Not one person cares if you are working union or not.Just be a good person PROUD TO BE AMERICAN! Do whats right! Unions stand with you.And yesterday all I seen were people PROUD TO BE AMERICANS!

[Mickey Rivers]

I think the company (Rio-Tinto) that locked-out these employees underestimated how everyone else outside the community of Boron would react. This is about 550 employees who were locked out and not allowed to work to provide for their families. This is a company who made almost $4 billion in profits last year AND received $300 million in Gov't stimulus money. This is truely shameful!

[Food for the Foolish]

To the moderater,

I am wondering why you didn't post my latest post on your site. Was it because of the first one looked liked it was written by a idiot and then my 2nd one was full of facts and made sense. I know the LA Times is a liberal paper but come on.

[Steve]

Food for the Foolish you sure do know alot about Local 30 and the 74 strike. How is it you know so much? You a scab? You dont even have a clue as to what they want to do with our seniority. People put in there time and should be rewarded for it. You give a company 30 plus years of service you shouldnt have to worry about somebody that thinks they know your job better then you getting premoted over you. This fight isnt necessarly about the economic package. Its about workers rights not only here but all over the world. We dont need to be treated like slaves in the diamond mines. This is America and workers have rights. Especially rights that were fought for with blood by our forfathers. You can't possibly be from America.

[Toni McCormick (AKA Proud Local 30 Wife!)]

Food for the foolish, still not brave enough to post your name I see… I have read, and re-read that contract. I HAVE my stories straight! Your 2nd grade reading level needs to be rechecked and lowered to a preschool reading level! You only posted the “company sweetened” part of the contract. Get back to me when you actually read the WHOLE proposed contract, know more about the medical (which sucks by the way), and stop listening to the company propaganda!!! You are no longer worth my time.

[ILWU Miner]

Hey Food For Foolish, stop wondering why the LA Times didn't print your message. You wondered if it was because your first message looked like it was written by an idiot? No, it was because it WAS written by an idiot!