Boilermakers from Local 1998, San Diego (NASSCO Shipyard), take part in a Cesar Chavez Day march. L. to r., Diana Barrientos, office manager; Kenny Johnston, chief steward for the steel bargaining unit; and (background) Robert Navarro, chief steward for the crane operators.
Local lodge promotes Employee Free Choice Act, good jobs
LOCAL 1998 (SAN DIEGO) used the occasion of Cesar Chavez Day, on March 31, to march with other unions in support of the Employee Free Choice Act and good jobs for American workers. About 1,000 members and supporters participated in the annual event, which was sponsored by the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “We marched for about five miles, starting at the convention center and past civic and county government landmarks,” said L-1998 VP John Peterson. “We even marched through the San Diego Airport terminals, where TSA [Transportation Security Administration] workers are trying to organize.”
Cesar Chavez was a labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers union. He also played an important role in creating the Agricultural Labor Act of 1975 (similar to the NLRA), and unemployment insurance and OSHA safety standards for agricultural workers.
Local 1998 represents workers at the General Dynamics NASSCO Shipyard.
