A-Infos (en) US, DAAA* Collective Report from Livingston Foster Farms Strike

Today members of the D.A.A.A.* Collective stood with
strikers at the gates of Foster Farms in Livingston
CA, (about 20 minutes south of Modesto). Armed with a
large pot of pasta, and some various class struggle
handouts, we feed teams of strikers while the party
around us went on. And, it was a party. Far from being
a stale, unhappy environment, people sang labor songs,
danced, played music, and ate.

Our large pot of past was small however to the huge
community kitchen that was set up right behind us.
Strikers on the lines were largely Indian and Latino,
and foods from both cultures were represented, as
people worked hand in hand to make sure people were
fed. A great part of the day came when a whole group
of strikers both latino and Indian took to marching
around the sidewalks blasting Indian pop music while
people danced. Teams of people bringing in drinks,
plates, and food came throughout the time we were
there, and a union rep. told us that these were all
people from the community.

Spirits were high, and several truckers entering the
plant were supportive of the strike at least in
spirit, and gave us the thumbs up and numerous
supportive honks.

Our literature went over well, despite us having
english only flyers. In one situation, a woman asked
the person next to her to tell her what one of our
flyers said, to which she told her it stated, (in
spanish), "We don't need the boss - the boss needs
us". She nodded along and said, "Very true!" A union
person also took down our address, in order to send
the collective a thank you card.

Strikers also have organized themselves into shifts,
and even stay out on the lines in the night, we were
told by various strikers. According to the Modesto
Bee, the strike will end on Saturday morning, however,
workers are prepared to continue fighting if talks
between management and the union do not go back on
track. The solidarity, mutual aid, and community
support shown by the workers in Livingston is great.
It takes a strong group of people to not go to work
for a few days, and risk taking money away from their
families, to stand up for better pay, respect, and
conditions while on the job. We were happy to at least
in a small way help support them.

For more info:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/10/1777904.php
www.modanarcho.tk
------------------------
From:
Doug <modanarcho-A-yahoo.com>
====================================
* DAAA = Direct Action Anti-Authoritarians (DAAA)
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