One of the main issues the workers struck over was forced overtime. They were being forced to work what they called “suicide shifts” where they were required to work as much as 84 hours a week, often with as little as eight hours turnaround time between double or even triple shifts which the workers say meant they had no time to see family, do chores around the house, or get a full night’s sleep.

In the new contract they won a guarantee of at least one full day off every week, and end to the suicide shifts, as well as a 60-hour cap on forced hours. They also won raises of 4%.

This progress came as a direct result of the Frito Lay workers going on a 20-day strike. The vast majority of the workers honored the picket lines, which forced management to go back to the table and make major movement – even after previous offers in which they refused to do so.

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One of the main issues in the strike is the brutal working conditions they face in the manufacturing and warehouse facility they work at. Workers say they are forced in to what they call “suicide shifts” in a manufacturing warehouse where temperatures often exceed 100 degrees. They have endured 84-hour weeks of mandatory overtime, at the same time as they are not being offered raises that would keep up with cost of living.

The workers are in contract negotiations and are demanding an end to the suicide shifts, as well as meaningful pay increases. They have called for a national boycott on Frito-Lay products, as well as those produced by PepsiCo, for the remainder of the strike.

Monk Drapeaux has worked as a box drop technician for over 16 years at Frito Lay. He was seen holding a picket sign he says was made by his daughter in support of the strike and said, “I am on strike to better support my family.” The sign his daughter made features a picture of Rosy the Riveter saying, “We can do it” and “#BOYCOTTFRITOLAY”.

The strikers received an updated offer from management, showing that the pressure from the strike is mounting on them to settle, but, 18 days in, the strikers have continued to hold strong as they fight for improvements in their next union contract.

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