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Azteca Strikers News [The Accident]

Azteca Strikers News
[The Accident]
You may have heard about the accident at Azteca Foods. Here's what happened.
Rodrigo Mina, a temporary worker replacing strikers at Azteca Foods was
seriously injured on February 20, 2003 while at work at the Chicago plant.

Mina was clearing tortillas away from the location where two conveyor belts
meet when he slipped on a package of Azteca tortillas. As he fell his hand
got caught between the two belts in a space approx. 2" wide. The belts
pulled his hand and then his arm in up to above his elbow. According to
Mina, he was trapped with his arm being ground up for about 10 minutes
before the belts were shut off.

He was hospitalized for over two weeks and he has had two surgeries to
reconstruct his arm using bone, veins and skin from his foot and leg. He is
unable to use his arm. His doctors tell him that with a year of intense
therapy, he may be able to have limited use of his arm.

UE representatives and strikers have visited Mina to ensure he knows his
rights and to tell him that he is not alone. The strikers are particularly
disturbed by this accident since they all know how to shut off the belts in
question. The strikers had also complained to management about a lack of a
safety guard around the belts to prevent exactly this type of accident.

Mina is now home but unable to walk not to mention work. If you would like
to send a donation to him, you can mail it to:

Rodrigo Mina
2749 South Tripp
Chicago, IL 60623


Strike support donations can be made online via Paypal at
www.ranknfile-ue.org or can be mailed to:

UE Local 1159
37 South Ashland
Chicago, IL 60607

For more information, visit our website at www.ranknfile-ue.org or
call UE at 312-829-8300.
 
 

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