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UN t BO IM SIDES OF GREENWOOD THIS MORNING... scene at sanitation yard orderly while men wait for decision on their demands(Stem photo by Suady penick)Continued tram Page 1Townsend said lie would make an announcement later on garbage collection.“Meanwhile, we suggest that people who need to get rid of their garbage take it to one ox the two city dumps, one in (he 5900 block of South Staples and the other on Carbon Plant Road/’ Townsend said.No mention was made in the council’s statement of Raymond Duncan, collection supervisor, against whom the workers have eomnlained.The garbageme'n, with the aid of CUM A, are demanding that Duncan be replaced and that they receive time and a half pay for any work over eight hours a day and for all work on Saturday or Sunday. Townsend has'offered the workers a uniform 44-hour week but this lias been turned down. Under this proposal the garbagemen would' receive regular pay for the first 40 hours and time and a half for the next four based on a six-day week.About 150 sanitation workers, with a scattered number of supporters including at least one member of CUMA, were gathered outside the garbage truck yard.The men reported to work at 7:30 a.m. but indicated they would not actually go to work unta they were satisfied that their demands would be met by the council.Signs were placed by the striking workers on the” wire fence of the vard, reading “Fire Duncan.” “Viva la Buelga (Strike), “Viva la RaCza,” and “Mexicans Unidas Triunfan.”Shortly after 8 a.m. two men from the crowd spoke to the assembled group' from the back of a private truck.Richard Hinojosa of 5640 Ayers who described himself as self-employed, ■ speaking i n Spanish, urged the men to —LINE'-Continued from Page 1A light at one of the Little League bail parks on the old Airport shines in my face after I go to bed. Why don’t they put U out when the ball game is over? Also the porta-STRIKEhold out for a just settlement. •Speaking to a reporter after his remarks, Hinojosa said he is a member of no organization but “only an interested citizen.”“These men feel that thev have a just cause. Would vou want to work for $1.25'an hour?” Hinojosa asked.He said the men in the group were frustrated and confused but watted a good settlement.Displeased by ReportsHe said they were displeased following reports that all sanitation workers, including temporary ones, would not be placed on civil service status with related benefits.He also said that the men who have only 30 minutes for lunch would like to have an hour like all other city employes.“They should be able to schedule their lunch near a city park where there are shade trees. These men work hard. They are human beings too.”The second speaker, Jesus B. Martinez of 4542 Larkspur, said that he was not an official spokesman but is interested in getting a fair settlement in their dispute with the city.Martinez said the men were particularly displeased because the two Mexfcan-Ameri-cans on the City Council — Mayor Pro Tern Gabe Lozano Sr. and City Councilman Ed de Ases — have not appeared at the sanitation yard in person to listen to their grievances.Assurances SoughtHinojosa said the men he had talked to wanted definite assurances that all sanitation workers will be put on a civil service status with the city.“They say that they have heard these promises before arid, they did not come true,” Hinojosa said.He indicated that the men wanted someone like Lozano, De Ases or City Manager Marvin Townsend to come to them and give them the assurances they were waiting for.Most of the men in the group were relaxed and milling about and talking with their friends. Frequently they would shout and wave at Mex-( ~ican-Americans passim? in cars and trucks..Someone brought coffee and rolls for the striking workers and a woman from a house across the street from the sanitation yard made several trips with a coffee pot to refill their cups.At one point members began to chant in Spanish and pointed in the direction of a reporter. One member of the group said they .were requesting that the newspaper send a Mexi-oan-American reporter who can understand Spanish.Police Stand ByA police unit stood by at the scene.About 29 police patrolmen were waiting nearby in case trouble developed.They included the seven-man police tactical squad and 10 off-duty patrolmen. The force was waiting at the parking lot of the Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic about two blocks from where the striking garbage workers congregated.Heavy riot - control batons and impact-absorbing helmets were available to the officers but were not to be issued unless needed.Duncan was not at work today. Calvin Elliott, sanitation division supervisor, said that Duncan was on leave of absence but that it did not indicate any change in his status.In the structural setup, Duncan is under Elliott and in over-all charge of collections. There are six route foremen directly under him. Five of the six are Mexican - Americans.Inside the sanitation yard, white garbage trucks were parked in rows waiting to go when a settlement is reached. Inside the office, Elliott, and two women workers waited for word from City Hail.However, the available lines into the office were bringing a flood of calls from people asking if the strike was over and when their garbage would be picked up.Elliott said he had been at his office answering calls like these since 5 a.m. today.Four route superintendents, three of whom are Mexican-Amerieans, sat in a city sedan parked at the sanitation office.
Newspaper Details
Corpus Christi Times
Corpus Christi, Texas, US
Mon, Jun 02, 1969
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Del M.
Texas, USA 18 Feb 2019
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