El Milagro tortilla workers announce $1.3 million increased wages: But the fight isn't over

The El Milagro management team has yet to meet in person with the workers' committee.

Image by NatureFriend from Pixabay

CHICAGO) Last fall it was revealed that the popular tortilla factory, El Milagro, was engaging in unsafe conditions in their factories. The employees had staged a walkout in September in collaboration with Arise Chicago to demand higher pay and better working conditions.

On Monday, a press statement from Arise Chicago announced recent victories for the workers. These included multiple wage increases totaling $1.3 million collectively, the end of a 7-day work week, payout of unused sick days, company-bought tools (rather than requiring workers to supply their own), air conditioning in the lunchrooms, and anti-sexual harassment training for managers.

Pedro Manzanares, an 18-year El Milagro employee, and committee organizer made the following statement, "We are proud of what we accomplished. These raises are historic for El Milagro. It would have taken five years to earn the raises we won in a few months due to our organizing. We never could have won without being organized and united."

However, workers still complain about several issues. For one, the company has not closed down on Sundays as promised, giving workers a day of rest and time with their families. According to Manzanares, although the company offered to close on Sundays in the fall, the factory is currently running seven days a week.

“The company offered Sundays off back in the fall. It’s now April. It’s been about six months, and they have not followed through. I have worked for El Milagro for nearly 20 years and never had Sundays off," said Manzanares. "I never had time to spend with my kids, who are now grown. I want them to fulfill their promise so that my coworkers with young children can have the time with their kids that I lost."

Another issue the company has not addressed is running the machines at too fast of a pace. Committee member and long-time employee Olga made the following statement, "They are still speeding up the machines, causing pain in our backs and our hands. But the company doesn't care. We put in all our strength to work hard and keep up until we simply can’t do it anymore.”

While the workers celebrate their hard-earned victories, they are not ready to end their campaign for better working conditions. The workers are still attempting to get management to meet directly with the workers' committee.

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