Sometimes, the path to building solidarity is through the stomach.
That was especially true for USW Local 5702 members from Gramercy, La., who traveled to Gregory, Texas, over the weekend to treat their locked-out brothers and sisters from Local 235A to some home-cooked jambalaya.
Sherwin Alumina locked the doors on members of Local 235A on Oct. 11 after members overwhelmingly rejected a final contract offer that demanded huge cuts in benefits to workers and retirees.
The Local 5702 members, who have faced their share of tough fights over the years at the Kaiser Aluminum plant in Gramercy, decided to bring some food and fellowship to their struggling sisters and brothers and their families.
Even as the lockout approaches its second month, spirits on the Sherwin picket line have remained high, in part because of events like Saturday’s cookout.
“Knowing that others have been through similar situations and won, and that they were willing to come all this way to join us in our fight, that gave everyone on the picket line a huge lift,” said Local 235A Vice President Rey Herrera.