Immigrant Factory Workers Joined by Elected Officials, Clergy, to Rally Ahead of Union Election

 Fight back against ongoing preventable injuries, union busting

Media Contact

Shelly Ruzicka, Arise Chicago

773-251-3003

[email protected]

Photos  and Livestream from 7.21.25 rally, prayer, and press conference.

Immigrant workers, allies, clergy and elected leaders chanted “Union Yes! Union Yes!”  and “What do we want? The union! When do we want it? Now!” in Spanish outside the SureBuilt Concrete Forms & Accessories factory in Melrose Park, IL. 

The rally and press conference was held two days ahead of the workers’ upcoming union election. SureBuilt recently hired union busters to fight the workers’ organizing campaign. Hired union busters Gus Flores and Carlos Flores, according to records, have been paid $3,750 daily for past union busting. 

In response, 4-year SureBuilt worker Aida Buñuelos said, “Instead of paying us raises, SureBuilt is paying these consultants. If the company is hiring these consultants to represent them, then they are saying we should have a representative too. And we want the union to represent us!”

Alma Ramirez, who has worked at SureBuilt for 9 years added, “We are fighting for better jobs, including equality for direct hire and temporary workers. We want recognition for our skills and years of experience at the company. Right now, our voices don’t count at SureBuilt. We need union representation so that SureBuilt listens to us.”

She added, “More than anything, we are fighting for a better future for our families. And with our union, we can see that better future coming! That’s why we’re voting for the union!”

Illinois State Representative Norma Hernandez said, “I am a daughter of immigrants, a daughter of factory workers. It is important that SureBuilt recognizes that when they treat their workers better, the quality of work is better too. It’s to their benefit that these workers feel taken care of. It’s to their benefit to make sure these workers are treated fairly….I am here to support the workers unconditionally. Thank you for being a model to other workers across the industry, and inspiring them.”

Over more than 6 years at SureBuilt, Miguel Reyes suffered 2 significant injuries. An 80 pound bar fell on his foot, injuring him. The company sent him to a clinic and he had to walk on crutches. Both his supervisor and human resources told him to work while on crutches. “I asked ‘What happens if I fall?’ It felt like I didn’t matter at all to the company. I had to file a workers’ compensation case.”

“About a year later I had to carry a heavy load, too much for one person, and I hurt my waist. SureBuilt sent me to a doctor who only gave me tylenol. I was in a lot of pain and had to find my own support and pay for my own treatment to try and recuperate. But my body has never been the same. No one should have to suffer injuries like I did at SureBuilt. That’s why we need our union!”

SureBuilt worker of over 10 years, Ricardo Castañon echoed the need for a union for better conditions. “We need safe jobs. We are getting older and we need health insurance. We need a retirement plan. Only with the union can we win these benefits for ourselves and our families.”

Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar (16) said, “I express my full unconditional support for fair wages and dignified conditions for all SureBuilt workers–temporary and permanent workers, native born and immigrant workers. It must be affirmed that all workers in the United States have the right to unionize.”

Cook County Commissioner Jessica Vasquez (8), told the workers, “I applaud you for standing strong on your right to organize, and being out here today fighting for better working conditions and better pay, because when we have strong labor, we have good business. It is good business to be involved with labor. It is good business to have a union.”

Moises Zavala, Arise Chicago Worker Center Director said, “In March of this year, workers made the commitment to unionize with the Painters Union District 14. The company responded to the union petition by trying to exclude the temp workers from being allowed to vote. The workers testified at the NLRB and now all workers including temporary agency workers will be voting!”

He continued, “The company has hired a union busting firm, and workers tell us they are using intimidating tactics to get workers to vote against their interests. For that, the union has field charges. This union busting firm is no stranger to Arise Chicago, because we have defeated them TWICE in the recent past. We look forward to a union victory this week!”

Al Barraza, Painters District Council 14 Organizing Director, “When we were approached by Arise and the workers in March 2025, we listened to the workers and agreed, they needed a union, and we are proud to organize alongside the SureBuilt workers.”

“SureBuilt management is sadly throwing away money to fight its own workers instead of recognizing the workers’ union and sitting down to negotiate right now. It would be in everyone’s interest to move ahead with the workers’ union and get to a first contract,” said Barraza. 

Following the press conference, Fr. Larry Dowling and Arise Chicago Executive Director Rev. C.J. Hawking prayed over the workers, who gathered in a circle under the strong July sun to receive the blessing.

Fr. Larry Dowling prayed, “We pray for Your blessing for the workers who do so much and contribute so much, but who are not regarded with the dignity that they should be by SureBuilt. We ask for your blessing on them, to strengthen them with Your spirit. Bless them and their families. For every person deserves fair wages and safety, safety, safety, to be able to go home and take care of their families.”

Rev. C.J. Hawking prayed “Give us strength and courage to see each other and each other's families as one. Give us strength to make our union vote on Wednesday so that all of Your people are protected, now and forever more.”

Background

Workers from SureBuilt’s Melrose Park, IL factory contacted Arise Chicago reporting mistreatment and major safety concerns in March 2024. Their organizing led to safety improvements including adding air extractors to clear dangerous dust for welders. However, workers report ongoing safety issues. 

To address their concerns around safety among others, workers started a unionization campaign with the Painters & Allied Trades Union. In response, SureBuilt hired union busters Gus Flores and Carlos Flores who, according to records, have been paid $3,750 daily for past union busting. 

This is not the first time Gus Flores has been hired by local companies to fight their own workers. Flores has twice failed with other organizing campaigns supported by worker rights organization, Arise Chicago. Arise organized workers at Raymundo’s Foods production facility in Bedford Park and Portillo’s food production in Addison. Workers at both locations decided to unionize and both successfully voted for union representation with United Food and Commercial Workers local 881 in 2019, and Iron Workers local 853 in 2023, respectively. Local 881 filed charges at the NLRB against Raymundo’s Foods regarding Flores’ action. As ruled by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Flores used illegal tactics, including immigration threats against Raymundo’s Foods workers. (NLRB case 13-CA-251733)

Among other threats to SureBuilt workers, Flores threatened SureBuilt workers with company closure if they unionize. Painters District Council 14 recently filed multiple NLRB charges against SureBuilt for statements made at captive audience meetings, and polling workers to gauge which workers support the union. Workers view these actions as intimidation and attempts to undermine the union election.

SureBuilt workers publicly announced their union organizing campaign on March 19, 2025.

On Tuesday June 10, Painters Council District 14 filed for a union election at SureBuilt with the National Labor Relations Board.

Ongoing Safety Violations and Preventable Injuries

In March 2025 alone, two major safety incidents occurred. On March 13, a fire broke out in the factory. Despite the fire, workers report that smoke detectors did not alarm, and as far as they are aware the company did not contact the fire department. The same week, a machine caught on a worker’s arm, cutting him in several places and breaking his arm. This was not the worker’s first injury at SureBuilt. 

Another worker previously had two tons of material fall on him, breaking his pelvis. Multiple injured workers have reported being paid off by SureBuilt in order to avoid workers’ compensation claims which likely would have resulted in much higher payments to workers

Workers report suffering injuries for years without significant action from management, including severe cuts and severed fingers. Multiple workers have had parts of fingers amputated due to such injuries. Workers report there were 23 injuries at their SureBuilt location last year alone.

SureBuilt is a national company with 11 locations around the U.S.

Photos  and Livestream from 7.21.25 rally, prayer, and press conference

Photo credit to: Shelly Ruzicka, Arise Chicago

*Workers, Painters Union, and Arise Chicago representatives available for interview upon request in English and Spanish.

###