Volunteers from Teamsters Local 63 and the IBT.
On February 12th, the IELC continued to distribute food boxes after our February 1st event. This continuing event happened in Victorville, in order to serve the Amazon Teamsters organizing Amazon’s DFX4 facility and others in the High Desert. We coordinated with Teamster Locals 63 and 1932 to ensure the boxes would reach their membership well.
We arrived on a rainy day, but that didn’t stop the members from showing up in full force! We were greeted by a full team of volunteers who got to work calling members and loading boxes into cars, happy to help out.
Volunteers often knew those who came to pick up a donation. Many would stay to chat and crack jokes.
Volunteers were all involved in the logistics industry, with jobs ranging from UPS drivers, truck-drivers, to Amazon employees. In between donations, everyone talked about labor. We heard classic stories exchanged about standing up to management, what it’s like being a traveling organizer, and dreams about how the Inland Empire is only going to get more unionized. These workers were the same ones making that dream a reality.
Volunteers and IELC staff continued distributing until every box possible was given to a brave worker and their family.
As the night came to an end, we’re happy to say that over 120 boxes of food were distributed to the various workers and their families who came by. While workers are organizing for more, we have to support them however we can. Direct assistance like this is an important way to support and build solidarity as labor, helping one of us is helping all of us. Another key way to support would be engaging politically, and finally getting the state of California to pass a law guaranteeing unemployment benefits to striking workers. Let’s use all of the tools available to us to help working people in the IE. We are one movement!
