Supporters Rally for UAW Member Illegally Fired for Organizing at Baco Enterprises in the Bronx

UAW Local 259 members and supporters gathered to rally in the Bronx Tuesday, standing with worker Alex Patterson, who was wrongfully terminated from his job at construction materials fabricator Baco Enterprises for organizing his coworkers to form a union.

“I was illegally and immorally fired for exercising my rights to form a union with my coworkers. I exposed problematic working conditions: exploitation, being talked down to by managers, and unsafe working conditions," said Patterson. "We have a lot of support for forming a union. On July 11 management found out about our plans to form a union and I was terminated with no clear explanation. Workers are not going to take this, we’ll stand up and fight the millionaire class!”

Calling attention to our country’s broken labor laws, rally-goers demanded that Baco Enterprises reinstate Patterson, make him whole with back pay, and recognize the union or agree to be neutral as workers exercise their right to a union election free from intimidation and harassment. Members and supporters were joined by elected officials including Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. Check out more photos from the rally here!