Video courtesy of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha
Unionization of a Minneapolis grocery store was dealt a setback recently when one of the organizers was fired. Protests supporting the fired worker were met by force on Tuesday when a security guard assaulted a non-violent protester inside the store.
In the video, a group of non-violent protesters and allies of CTUL (Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en Lucha) conducts a protest in the form of a skit and song at the Cub Foods Store on Lake St. in Minneapolis. They are confronted by a security guard who then grabs one of the protesters, puts him in a headlock and wrestles him to the floor.
The group’s protest was aimed at calling on Cub Foods to meet with retail cleaning workers to establish fair wages and working conditions for workers — and to call on Cub Foods to reinstate Mario Colloly Torres, a recently laid-off worker.
Several protesters were assaulted and — according to CTUL — sprayed with pepper spray by the security guard while trying to leave the store. The same security guard yelled at protesters at a Saturday rally, but did not attack anyone.
CTUL will hold a press conference Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Cub Foods Store at 5937 Nicollet Ave S in Minneapolis. Retail cleaning worker Mario Colloly Torres will appear, as will David Wangaard, Bishop’s Associate for the Minneapolis Area Lutheran Synod.