We, the workers, are here picketing at B&H
because B&H is trying to move the warehouses to New Jersey
We are not going to accept it.
We are going to fight until the end.
B&H has to keep the jobs here in New York
Because otherwise our families will be harmed.
Thanks to all supporters who turned out
We are not going to give up, we are strong.
Thanks for everyone's support.
We're going to make B&H pay for all the damage it has caused.
Since 2014 workers from B&H came to the
Laundry Workers Center and we started the process of organizing.
After a long fight lead by the workers themselves,
300 workers stood up to
win better conditions and have a union
It was a landslide victory, 200 workers voted
in favor of the union, 88 against.
After 2-3 years of workers' struggle facing the
company's unfair labor practices,
and when the workers finally win all these victories
and can raise their voice to have a better workplace,
better working conditions and a contract with benefits
the company responds, as part of a dirty tactic
to undermine workers' strength,
by trying to move the warehouses from New York to New Jersey.
This May 1, the workers
have collectively decided to support
the general strike for their dignity, for respect
not only in their workplace but as immigrants
The company wants to go to New Jersey
we are fighting to stay here in New York,
to stay working here.
It's bad that the company wants to move to New Jersey.
Apart from the deportations that they want to do.
That's not good because we came to struggle,
to work and to get ahead, to help our families
Now they don't want to give us the contracts,
they want to go to another state, to New Jersey.
We don't want them to go there because many of us work.
The trip there is very far. it's more than two hours.
So we want our job to stay here in Brooklyn or in Manhattan.
We are discussing the commute and the cost that they would have to pay.
When they started to organize, the main reason was that
they wanted to spend more time with their families,
more time to enjoy with their kids, their wives, to go out.
The company knows that it's possible that many of the workers
or the majority of them will not move.
This would basically destroy the union.
Union representation would be lost if there is
no support of the majority again.
It is a well-planned tactic by the company
to destroy this process of organizing and to destroy the union.
I am with the Federation of Workers Centers of New York
and I came here to support the workers of B&H
that are fighting for the right to keep their jobs
and not move it to another place
Because it's going to affect them and their families.
I am here with them as a New York resident and this is my community.
This May 1, we're fighting for a better job and to prevent the company from moving
and against the exploitation of workers.
We work long hours and we are paid minimum wage,
especially compared to their wages.
It is discrimination.
And we want the company not to move from here,
to have a good job and be able to support our families.
This May 1, like in 2006, where there was a lot of a political tension
due to the attack on immigrants and to the community in general.
We are talking about the rights of the LGBTQ community,
the rights of the indigenous community
We are talking about the rights of people of color.
Add to that the new Trump administration where basically
he had a campaign that was based on hate against immigrants.
We are talking about how the struggle of the working class is basically
strong, saying we are visible, we are here.
We have the right to express and make decisions in our own communities.
The system knows that we are here, but only for what benefits the system
The system knows there's many of us workers
who have the right to pay taxes
but we don't have the right to have legal documents
So, basically, the system—the system we have right now—is like:
"Ok, you can pay us taxes, but you don't have the right to make
decisions in your community,
you don't have the right to vote someone you think will represent you."
To all workers in this May 1, I want to tell them
that I am here with you,
that we are all a community.
And that if someone is not free then no one is free.
We need to be united
because the ones at the top want to screw us over
and if we're not united they will screw us over.
Here we are all brothers, we come from different places,
so we need to unite.
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