Retail cleaning workers launch hunger strike

Saying they clean grocery stores, but often can’t afford to buy food for their families, Twin Cities retail cleaning workers launched a hunger strike.

For over a year, retail cleaning workers with CTUL, the Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha, have tried to contact representatives of Cub Foods to discuss ways to end the human rights violations that are reported in the cleaning of their stores.

Managers have refused to meet and fired one of the worker leaders, Mario Colloly. He announced Saturday that he and three other workers are taking part in the hunger strike – one worker participating for the duration, and three other workers taking rotating turns as long as the hunger strike lasts.

Four supporters of the workers also will participate, organizes announced at a rally outside the Cub Foods store on Lake Street in Minneapolis.

The Rev. Patrick Cabello Hansel from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church announced that the Bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA will be visiting hunger strikers on Monday morning.