Even though the canning season is three months away, there was plenty of commotion Thursday outside the San Benito Foods plant along Sally Street.
Tomato cannery workers picketed along Sally Street outside of the facility from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday. The Teamsters Union representing nearly 500 employees of the facility led the effort. Workers protested over contract negotiations and further, proposed cuts to pay, retirement, health, holiday and sick compensation, said Oscar Rios, a union representative for the group.
The Teamsters represents the 400 to 500 seasonal employees along with a much lower number of permanent workers. More than 100 employees picketed outside the plant Thursday leading up to the lunch hour.
“We’re trying to show we’re united,” Rios said.
While those mostly local workers already absorbed cuts in the two-year contract that expired Dec. 13, they face further reductions such as a decrease for the seasonal workers from seven days weekly to six days. Additionally, Rios noted that the cannery’s parent Neil Jones Food Co. is pushing for more cuts to benefits as well.
A representative for the cannery company could not be reached immediately.
