Promotoras protest Re:Vision’s treatment of unionized workers
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DENVER — “¡Sí, se puede! ¡Sí, se puede!”
More than 50 people chanted the phrase — which means “yes, it can be done” in Spanish — outside the Denver nonprofit Re:Vision Tuesday morning.
The crowd gathered in the cold to listen to current and former Re:Vision employees and union organizers speak about the leadership of Re:Vision’s executive director Mariana del Hierro. Re:Vision is a food equity nonprofit in Westwood, a predominantly Latino and immigrant community.
In late October, about a dozen promotoras, or community health workers, at Re:Vision joined the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 union in response to what they described as unfair treatment from del Hierro.
The organization fired five newly unionized promotoras Nov. 10, citing a loss in funding as the reason for the terminations.
“I grew up in Westwood, and I’m also first generation. These immigrant women reflect my household, my family, and so we’re here to stand in solidarity and to fight against this retaliation against community,” rally attendee Elizabeth Burciaga said.
Burciaga’s mom has participated in the family garden program offered by Re:Vision’s promotoras.
Re:Vision experienced a recent decline in grant funding, particularly for its youth programs.
The organization has been a recipient of the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids Initiative since 2023, but due to declining sales tax revenue, Re:Vision is set to receive half of what it normally got from the grant in the upcoming year.
The union still finds the terminations unjust, pointing out that the organization has spent money hiring a new human resources manager, lawyers for union negotiations and security for the rally.
The five fired promotoras did not accept the one week of pay and 10 days of health insurance coverage that Re:Vision initially offered after letting them go.
The former employees are working with the union to negotiate longer severance pay and extended health insurance benefits, but have not been successful.
“I feel like they’re just trying to brush it off. It’s really disappointing to see how little compassion they have towards the promotoras and us,” former promotora Zamira Pinon said.
Pinon was one of the five fired promotoras. Her mother, Mayra Olivas, was a promotora at Re:Vision for 14 years until del Hierro fired her in May.
Del Hierro was not present at the rally and did not respond to Rocky Mountain PBS’s request for comment.
The union is also advocating for recall rights, meaning Re:Vision would hire from the pool of terminated promotoras when it regains funding before looking at outside candidates.
After two meetings between the union and leadership at the nonprofit, the unionized employees didn’t feel like their voices were being heard by Re:Vision at the negotiation table.
They decided to hold a rally outside Re:Vision, scheduled to begin before its no-cost grocery service opened, to publicly express their concerns to the community and press.
“We can’t continue like this. Something really needs to be done in order for Re:Vision to keep thriving,” said one current promotora in the union, who spoke on the condition of anonymity over fear of retaliation.
Re:Vision’s promotoras provide food and health education to their community, staff a no-cost grocery store and teach their neighbors how to grow produce at home.
“Seeing the pillars of our community being treated like this, it’s not O.K,” Nancy Palacios said. “Our family comes to these spaces to feel welcomed, and when you have our actual community serving community, that’s important.”
The sudden loss of almost half the promotoras on staff has made it harder for the remaining employees to feed the community, especially during the busy holiday season, said one promotora.
The promotoras began organizing over the summer after Olivas’ termination. Re:Vision voluntarily recognized the promotoras as part of the union Oct. 31.
Pinon believes Re:Vision fired her because the promotoras decided to unionize, but she doesn’t regret joining the union.
Del Hierro ran for the District 2 Denver school board seat in the Nov. 4 election. She lost to incumbent Xóchitl “Sochi” Gaytán.
Pinon said the timing of the terminations is suspicious to her because they happened less than a week after the election when del Hierro was no longer campaigning.
In a statement, UFCW Local 7 said the unionized employees blame management for prioritizing del Hierro’s campaign over securing ongoing funding for the organization.
Type of story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. To read more about why you can trust the journalism of Rocky Mountain PBS, please visit our editorial standards and practices page.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. To read more about why you can trust the journalism of Rocky Mountain PBS, please visit our editorial standards and practices page.