Support workers on strike over health care

NA4J members joined Norma Trinidad and 20 of her co-workers in front of the Sears store on Dearborn in Chicago’s Loop September 18, handing out leaflets. These workers, members of Teamsters local 743, are in strike against SK Hand Tools, and were asking Sears customers not to buy tools made by SK.

“They took away our health care,” Norma told people as they entered the store.

On August 25, the workers struck because Claude Fuger, the wealthy French businessman that owns SK Handtools, had stopped paying their health insurance premiums – in violation of their contract. To put additional pressure on Fuger, workers are asking for help from shoppers at Sears, which is the largest purchaser of SK and Craftsman brands made at the SK factory on 47^th Strteet.

The workers plan to go to Oak Brook mall on Saturday. The Sears store there is having a sale on hand tools.

Supporters can call the CEO of SK Hand Tools at 800-752-7263 (tell them everyone needs health care and restore the coverage workers are owed), or call Sears at 847-286-2500 to protest their sale of SK products.

As part of its striker support, NA4J brought several cases of produce for the people on strike.