How Tortilleria Workers Are Trying to Make The Workplace Better
The El Milagro tortilla brand is strong in Chicago. You can find it in almost every grocery store, and you can often see people line up around the block of El Milagro factories, waiting to get hot, fresh tortillas. But in recent months, we all paid a little more attention to the workers in those factories as they became more vocal on calling out unsafe work conditions and low pay. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Pedro Manzanares, a 52 year old who’s been working at El Milagro for 18 years, and City Bureau reporter Sarah Conway about labor organizing in food production companies across Chicago.
A little bit of news: Early voting has been moved again, now to Tuesday, May 31. Check out our episode with the Chicago Board of Elections for everything you need to know about primary voting.
Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago
Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm
Call or Text Us: (773) 780-0246
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
How the City Is Helping Chicagoans Buy Houses and Read More Books
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Housing are launching a new $21 million housing program to provide down payment and closing a...
City Buying Greyhound Station. Plus, Chicago’s Lesbian Business Directory
For almost two years, there have been questions about the future of Chicago’s downtown bus terminal. Flix, the parent company of Greyhoun...
What Happened in Springfield? Plus, Dreaming of Summer Break
What did lawmakers get done in Springfield? A $56 billion budget, a cellphone ban in schools, relief for those who lost SNAP benefits, an...
Your Guide to June 2026 in Chicago
June is officially summertime Chi in our world, so we’re going to help you make the most of it. Host Jacoby Cochran is joined by contribu...
School Board Hopefuls, Traffic Court Confusion, and Murakami Homers Again … And Again
This year, for the first time, Chicago will fully elect the 21-person school board. Candidates had to get their petitions in this week wi...
A Chicago Mayor and Pope Walk Into a Schlitz Bar…
Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Vatican City this week to meet Chicago’s very own Pope Leo XIV for the first time. The two are expected to di...
WIll Parents Face Charges For Teen Trends? Plus, Chicago Expands CARE Teams
After multiple large gatherings of young people over the weekend, including at 57th St. Beach and North Ave Beach, Ald Brian Hopkins is p...
Will CTA Safety Task Force Make a Difference? Plus, Chicago's Best Inventions
Earlier this month, CTA announced a new transit safety task force and made adjustments to 2025 ridership totals. With ongoing concerns ab...
Tipped Wage Compromise, Lead Pipe Removal Lags, and Del Sur Expands
City Council reached a near-unanimous decision to pause the subminimum wage hike for tipped workers this week. When they voted to free th...
Who Wins Summer in the USA? Chicago Makes Its Case
City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson hosts this showdown where 12 City Cast reps, including City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran, c...