Hear from Workers >> Ivo Camilo
Ivo Camilo | Blue Diamond Growers
Sacramento, Calif. |
Ivo Camilo was an exemplary employee at Blue Diamond Growers for 35 years. Then, he was fired. He was fired because he exercised his freedom to join a union. After moving to the United States from the Cape Verde Islands, Camilo worked for Blue Diamond for 35 years. As a vend pack operator, he ran the equipment that sealed almonds into small bags for sale in vending machines. He earned awards from the company for coming up with innovative ways to make the equipment run more efficiently. In 2004, Camilo and his co-workers on the Blue Diamond Organizing Committee decided they wanted to join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. They were fed up with watching their wages sag while health costs shot up and they fell farther and farther behind the cost of living. “As workers of Blue Diamond, we have no voice in terms of policy change, no job security,” says Camilo. “We are employees at will and we have no guarantees.” Blue Diamond responded with intimidating and illegal tactics. These included threatening to close or move the plant, threatening that workers could lose their pensions and other benefits, interrogating workers about their union sympathies—and illegally firing union supporters. One of those was Ivo Camilo. Blue Diamond fired Camilo in April 2005 after he scratched his hand on a machine. His supervisor claimed he contaminated the almonds with blood from the one-eighth inch cut on his hand. In March 2006, a year later, a judge ordered the company to re-hire Camilo and one of his co-workers. Camilo says of his experience: “I would [exercise my freedom to join a union] all over again. I would join the organizing committee, attend meetings, and speak with my co-workers about the need for health coverage, better wages, and better conditions at work. I learned that I deserve respect and recognition for my work. I learned that I believe in justice and in equality. And that as a member of this community, I matter, my family, and my co-workers matter as well.” | 
