Click here to watch a video from this event.

Cries echoed throughout C Street today as local activists and students involved with MEChA joined together to rally for better working conditions for Blue Diamond Growers employees.

The rally was part of the second day of events held in conjunction with the 15th annual national MEChA conference, hosted by the Sacramento State chapter of MEChA this year.

The conference brings both high school and college students together with the goal of creating change and increasing awareness of social injustices.

More than 200 MEChA students were shuttled by bus from the Sacramento State campus to the Blue Diamond Growers processing plant in Downtown Sacramento.

Blue Diamond, a Sacramento-based agriculture company specializing in almonds, has faced criticism from union organizers in the past.

“They are denied the right to build union contracts in bettering their labor rights,” Bill Camp said, executive secretary to the Sacramento Central Labor Council.

Camp said employees do not currently have health insurance and that attempts to form labor unions have been stymied through harassment.

“The company was given $19 million from tax payers to better their employees working conditions, but the money was never used,” Camp said.

Blue Diamond workers have fought for improvements for three years, but both organizers and employees said they are confident their peaceful demonstrations will bring justice.

Cesario Aguirre, a mechanic for Blue Diamond, said he noticed the political corruption involving Blue Diamond against their employees.

Aguirre said that seasonal workers that are in production are not entitled to benefits, vacation, sick leave or paid holidays.

Employees also have to work extensive hours if they want to receive benefits for the following season, Aguirre said.

Susan Brauner, Director of Public Affairs to Blue Diamond, contested the claims of unfair labor conditions.

Brauner said that all Blue Diamond employees are eligible for benefits after they complete 500 working hours or about three months of employment. Benefits include a 401K plan, a pension plan and career advancement opportunities.

Brauner stated that Blue Diamond petitioned for a secret ballot in April 2005 to the National Labor Relations Board after receiving a letter from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union requesting to represent the company.

The secret ballot gave the employees the right to make a decision of how they wanted to be represented, with a union or without.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union denied the request and did not want to hold a secret ballot with the National Labor Relations Board, Brauner said.

Agustin Ramirez, an organizer for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, hoped that the demonstration outside Blue Diamond created awareness of the influence MEChA students can exercise.

Ramirez said that Blue Diamond, in fear of the demonstration, closed its doors and gave their employees the day off to keep them in the dark and unaware of their right to protest.

Peaceful demonstrations for the Blue Diamond workers’ cause will continue on March 31 and April 1.

MEChA, which stands for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano De Aztlan, is a student organization that promotes education, activism and cultural awareness for Latino students.

The conference will continue with workshops speakers and meetings Saturday and Sunday.

Vanessa Guerrero can be reached at [email protected].

Click here to watch a video from this event.