Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held a pay rise for Teamsters workers at a Bronx produce market, following a week-long strike that was due to end on Sunday.
“Our food workers wanted to raise $ 1 after risking their lives at COVID. They were denied, asked to pay more for health care and told they were “lucky to even have a job,” he said. tweeted Saturday afternoon of Hunts Point Produce Market workers. “It simply came to our notice then. The community supported them. They now receive a $ 1.85 increase and 0 out of pocket. “
Ocasio-Cortez spent the day of the inauguration in pickets with the 1,400 local members of 202 working in the market, which supplies 60% of the region’s products.
Ninety-seven percent of union members officially voted Saturday morning for a new contract that will increase their hourly wages by $ 1.85 over three years, Local 202 president Danny Kane Jr. said.
The first crew had to get back to work at 2am on Sunday.
“It is not uncommon for workers to take their destiny into their own hands and decide to unite them to fight for a better tomorrow. These workers did this, ”Kane Jr. said as he celebrated the pay rise with a champagne toast outside the union’s Bronx headquarters, flanked by State Assembly Ida Septimno and city councilor Rafael Salamanca.