Hunger strike ends as Bishop, Congressman Ellison, officials intercede

State Senator Patricia Torres Ray stood with striking Cub workers Tuesday, May 24, at their camp-in and hunger strike on the public sidewalk outside Cub Foods on Lake and Minnehaha.  She told the crowd of about 40 supporters, “You are not here for them.  You are here to protect our democracy.  Our country is under attack by corporations.  We have forgotten where the struggles for freedom in America come from.  The strength of our democracy is in our workers.  Workers need to come together and we are here today to start this unity.”  And then she turned to the striking workers standing beside her and said in English and in Spanish, “Thank you for reminding us what a true democracy is all about.”

On Wednesday, June 1, retail cleaning workers with CTUL (Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha—Organization of Workers United in the Struggle) and their allies agreed to end a 12-day hunger strike at the request of faith leaders and elected officials who pledged to press Cub Foods management to agree to meet with the workers’ organization to discuss a proposed code of conduct.

Minneapolis Council Member Gary Schiff, State Senator Patricia Torres Ray, State Representative Jim Davnie and members of the clergy spoke before a crowd of approximately 75 workers and supporters.  U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison and ELCA Bishop Craig Johnson issued statements citing concern for the health of the hunger strikers and calling on Cub management to agree to meet with CTUL, whose Campaign for Justice in Retail Cleaning has sought to reverse years of declining wages and increased workloads.

“These courageous people have sacrificed their health long enough,” Congressman Keith Ellison said in a statement. “In the end, I hope all parties can sit down, talk, and come to a conclusion that ensures these workers’ voices are heard. I will continue to work to get the management involved to meet with the workers and come to a mutually beneficial conclusion.”

“Today, out of respect for the important community leaders present with us, we conclude the hunger strike with the faith and optimism that this will open the possibility that Cub will come to the table to negotiate. We hope that Cub has the same respect for these leaders and listens to them in order to open a dialogue,” said CTUL member Mario Colloly Torres, former cleaner at Cub Foods who ended his 12-day fast at the event. (He spoke through an interpreter.)

“We need the hunger strikers to stop today because we need your leadership as this struggle continues for Cub and retail workers across this city and across this state and across this nation for fair wages, for decent working conditions and for the sort of communities that nurture our children,” said Representative Jim Davnie.

 “You have built tremendous support in this community,” said State Senator Patricia Torres Ray.  “We want you to accomplish what you came to accomplish. I promise you I will stay with you and work with you and Cub Foods to come to an agreement.”
 
“I join my colleagues in asking for an end to this phase of the struggle,” said South Minneapolis Council Member Gary Schiff. “We will join you in asking for the management of Cub Foods to sit down and to ask for a code of conduct for their workers and fair wages.”

In an open letter to Cub Foods read at the rally, Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop Craig Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America said “I am calling on Cub Foods to partner with CTUL to establish policies guaranteeing fair wages and working conditions for the workers who clean their stores. I look forward to your response, and to a peaceful resolution to this issue.”

Since Saturday, May 21, a group of 18 people, retail cleaning workers and their supporters, have engaged in a hunger strike to pressure Cub management to meet with members of CTUL, a workers rights organization, to discuss a proposed code of conduct for fair wages and working conditions. Six people, including the Rev. Grant Stevenson, had not eaten since Saturday, May 21, and a dozen others joined the fast throughout the 12 days.

At the invitation of the Rev. Stevenson, the hunger strikers broke a loaf of bread and shared it with members of the crowd of supporters as a sign of unity before taking their first bites of solid food since beginning their hunger strikes.

Ten years ago, many workers who cleaned Cub Foods made up to $10-$11 an hour. Now, some workers make as little as $7.50 an hour and the workload has nearly doubled.

While agreeing to end their hunger strike, workers and supporters were clear that their campaign would continue.

“We will end the hunger strike today but the struggle continues,” said Gerania Mata, a member of CTUL who participated in the hunger strike for four days. “We will wait some time so that our allies and leaders in the community can call on Cub Foods to enter into this dialogue. But if Cub Foods refuses to enter into dialogue we will continue to take action.