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El Milagro reaches settlement over low pay, harsh working conditions

By and Fox 32 Digital Staff
Published  July 20, 2023 11:43am CDT
Little Village
FOX 32 Chicago

Chicago's El Milagro settlement dubbed 'victory for all workers'

El Milagro was accused of spending nearly $1.8 million to intimate their employees to not organize. Workers celebrated the company's settlement Thursday. El Milagro must inform their employee's of their rights.

CHICAGO - Employees of Chicago's El Milagros tortilla factory celebrated Thursday after the company reached a settlement over low pay and poor working conditions. 

Dozens of workers, community leaders and members of Arise-Chicago gathered at the factory in Little Village to commend the settlement that was years in the making. 

In Sept. 2021 workers walked off the job at the factory claiming the company had not done enough to address their complaints. 

The company was accused of intimidating workers to keep them from organizing. 

With help from Arise, workers formed a committee to make their concerns heard. They secured raises, over $2 million worth in total, and put an end to the requirement to use paid sick time. 

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El Milagro workers celebrate settlement

El Milagro and the National Labor Relations Board have reached a settlement after workers began to protest about unfair working conditions back in 2021. Workers and community leaders gathered in Little Village to celebrate Thursday.

Employees also advocated for safer equipment in the factory, as well as air-conditioned break rooms. 

"El Milagro denies that they violated the law, but they spent $1.7 million in outside labor advisors who threatened the workers, intimated the workers, told them not to organize," Jorge Mújica from Arise said. 

As part of the settlement, El Milagro now must inform their employees of their rights, including the right to organize.

The company released a statement in response to the settlement Thursday. The statement is included below: 

"El Milagro has always complied with the law and will continue to do so. Our company addresses employee concerns and we act accordingly. This policy reflects our values and commitment to continuous improvement in the workplace."