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Campus quarrels over a unionization effort and firing of 17 workers over incomplete documents prompted the protest/celebration. But the issues remain unresolved.

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By Paloma Esquivel, Los Angeles Times  March 31, 2012

See Upcoming Events April 2, 2012

(Pomona, CA) – Local leaders and community groups in Pomona will honor civil rights leader Cesar Chavez with their 10^th  Annual Community Pilgrimage, commemorating Chavez’s struggle to illuminate issues of injustice, inequality and community self-empowerment. Celebrating his legacy, participants will promote his teachings of nonviolence towards the fulfillment of his unique vision and powerful contributions to our society.

Those that participate in the pilgrimage will be encouraged to stay and attend the City Council Meeting that we may support the Day Laborer Center and its efforts to continue their service to the community. Members and students of different groups will address the City Council in support of the Day Laborer Center.

In honor of Cesar Chavez Day, a number of organizations (listed below) are holding a march and “dining hall in the streets” banquet and rally on Friday, March 30 to bring attention to Pomona College’s firing of 16 immigrant dining hall workers who were trying to form a union (beginning with a march from Shelton Park – corner of Harvard Ave. and Bonita Ave and ending with speakers, music by Quetzal, and a meal in the streets on College Ave. between 4^th st. & 6^th st.). Some of the speakers include: Judy Chu, Congresswoman from the 32nd Congressional District of California; Connie Leyva, President of the California Labor Federation and President of UFCW Local 1428; Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary -Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. Hundreds will march and join together in support the ongoing efforts of the dining hall workers to obtain a pledge of neutrality from Pomona college administrators and to rehire the 17 workers who were fired. In December, Pomona College fired 16 immigrant dining hall workers who were trying to form a union. The college did a voluntary check on the workers documents. Some of these workers had been working at the college for 10 and 20 years. The public is invited to join in the march/free banquet and to listen to speakers and music by the group Quetzal. The group Quetzal, who has five albums to its name, will share its jarocho/urban rhythm/Latin rock music as a means of commenting on the immigrant and labor issues that have transpired at Pomona College.

CLUE-LA, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11, Latino and Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, Latino Student Alliance, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, Pax Christi, Pomona Habla, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1428, LCLAA, and UNITE HERE Local 11

Read about the history of the Dining Hall Workers and their struggle to unionize.