NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The neighborhood supermarket shelves may not be full soon because most workers at the Hunts Point terminal market in the Bronx are now on strike.
Workers say the dispute with their bosses exceeds a $ 1-per-hour increase, CBS2’s John Dias reported Sunday.
Direct demand comes from more than 1,400 New York essential workers.
“Fighting for our rights and getting a better salary,” said truck driver Wilford Alexander.
All members of Teamsters Local 202 in the Hunts Point terminal product market are now on full strike after the market denied their request for a $ 1 per hour hike.
The market counter-offer was an increase of 32 cents per hour.
“It’s not good enough to applaud them and say they are essential. When they asked for a decent climb, a reasonable number, they should be told, “Yes, you can have it and thank you,” said Teamsters Local 202 president Danny Kane.
From warehouse workers to truck drivers, these are the men and women according to the Teamsters union who helped feed the tri-state area during the coronavirus pandemic with a base salary of $ 40,000 a year.
“They can’t telecommute, they can’t call. They have to show up,” Kane said. “We finally realize that these people did not become essential during the pandemic. They have been essential forever. “
Most workers say they need the climb to help their families.
Jimmy Morales, a dock worker, said he spends ten hours a day, six days a week.
“We come here, we work with cold, rain and heat,” Morales said.
Many of them pay a price for going through the global health crisis.
“Contagious, many, many infected. I mean 300 to 400 infected people, “said Leonardo Servedio, vice president of Teamsters Local 202.
Six union workers have died from COVID-19, according to Servedio.
“Very angry that they have no remorse. They don’t care, “he said.
The Hunts Point Terminal Market is the largest wholesale product market in the world. It provides 22 million people in 49 states.
The union said that without these workers to sort and deliver the products, the food supply in the tri-state area will be severely affected.
The union has not staged such a strike in almost 35 years. Workers said they will not return to work until they get the full increase.
None of the Hunts Point Produce Market co-op would co-operate with CBS2 on camera.
In a statement, he said the market is still open for companies and is disappointed because the union stepped away from the bargaining table more than a week ago.
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