When dozens of Local 13A members (the “A” is for Allied Division) lost their jobs in May as “coke cutters” at the Tesoro Refinery near the Port of Los Angeles, Local 13 leaders and members jumped into action. They helped organize a labor-community coalition meeting, then followed-up with a petition drive that’s involved dozens of volunteers and enrolled thousands of co-workers to stand up for good jobs. The Tesoro refinery caused the problem by replacing their union contractor that employed Local 13A members with a non-union outfit from Utah in May.
In July, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor joined the fight, coordinating a network of 350 unions representing over 800,000 workers with a track record of winning tough fights – including a key role in helping families win the lockout by Rio Tinto in Boron. The effort at Local 13 is being coordinated by Vice President Bobby Olvera, Jr., and a team of volunteers.