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Carousel strikers take on corporate giant

On February 1 striking Carousel workers took on the global pharmaceutical monopoly, Abbott Laboratories. On this bitterly cold cloudless day, the strikers rallied across the street from Abbott’s sprawling industrial complex along with 100 supporters demanding Abbott cut its ties to Carousel.
Carousel strikers take on corporate giant
By John Bachtell

North Chicago, IL - These are some fearless workers. Forty industrial laundry, Mexican immigrants, mostly young women. They have now endured four long months on the picket line against Carousel Linens for the right to join a union, livable wages, safe working conditions, and health benefits. So far Carousel has stonewalled in the face of an overwhelming majority of workers who are determined never to return to a sweatshop.
February 1 they took on the global pharmaceutical monopoly, Abbott Laboratories. On this bitterly cold cloudless day, the strikers rallied across the street from Abbott’s sprawling industrial complex along with 100 supporters from IBEW, Carpenters District Council, UNITE! retirees, unionized workers from BBJ and Skokie Valley laundries, the Midwest Region AFL-CIO, Chicago Jobs with Justice, students from Northwestern and DePaul universities, Committee for New Priorities, Interfaith Committee on Workers Issues and SEIU Local 73, who hauled up the giant inflatable rat.
Abbott is the last remaining large client of Carousel’s. It refuses to take its laundry elsewhere until the strike is over.
“Abbott Labs accounts for 40% of Carousel’s business, Lynn Talbot, UNITE! Regional Vice President told the crowd. “Abbott is loaded. They earned $16 billion last year. Yet they are the cheapest, sleaziest company because they have their laundry cleaned in a sweatshop,” she said as she gestured toward the giant rat to emphasize her point. “These workers will stay out another four months if that’s what it takes.”
So far Abbott has refused to even meet with the union. Talbot announced plans to step up the pressure by picketing every Abbott dinner and exhibition until they withdraw their business. “Let the doctors know what dirty linens they are eating off of,” she declared.
The strikers were joined by Congressman Luis Gutierrez, who has become a regular at picket lines around Chicagoland. “These workers are fighting for justice,” he said to loud cheers. “Abbott makes billions under the mantra that their drugs save lives. They can’t be good corporate citizens as long as they use filthy linens cleaned by scab workers. We will unmask them before the public.”
Consuelo Toledo, strike captain and mother of a small child thanked all those present. “This struggle has not been easy for us and our families, she said. “But its not easy to work under those conditions. That’s why we are here.”
Toledo urged everyone to continue to support the strikers for as long as it takes to get the union. “We need the union. It’s the only way to get respect to meet our needs.”
Also speaking was Hank Perritt, a candidate for Congress against right wing Rep. Kirk of the 10th Congressional District. Perritt has appeared numerous times on the picket line and initiated a letter signed by over 500 community and religious leaders, candidates and elected officials from Lake County that was sent to Carousel demanding an end to sweatshop conditions and justice for the workers.
“America was built by immigrants. No American should stand for it when a foreign born worker is mistreated,” said Perritt.
The crowd then stopped traffic and marched across the street to the front gates shouting “What’s disgusting? Union busting! What’s outrageous? Sweatshop wages!” A delegation that included strikers, union leaders and and Rep. Gutierrez delivered a gift to Abbott CEO Myles White, a tablecloth emblazoned with the message “Washed in your community in a sweatshop.”
To support the strike and find out about future actions to pressure Abbott Labs call Joe Costigan, UNITE! political director at 312-738-6140.
 
 

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