JANUARY 25, 2023
Vol. VII No. 4
vfpress.news
Black LGBTQ workers at Hostess claim discrimination Upset after union pulled grievance complaint By ANKUR SINGH
FREE
Contributing Reporter
On June 15, 2022, Danyell Wallace went to punch in for her shift at the Hostess factory in the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago. When she walked in for what she thought was a normal shift, she said she was told by a security guard that Human Resources wanted to see her. She was terminated for taking excess break time. Wallace, who identifies as transgender, and other Black LGBTQ workers who are members of the organization Black Workers Matter are accusing the company of discrimination based on their gender identity. According to Black Workers Matter, in addition to Wallace, four other workers were fired in 2022. This comes as the sweets company has been publicizing its work around diversity equity and inclusion, with a report released in June and the creation of a new inclusion committee. Hostess did not respond to a request for comment. “I know I was singled out [for my identity],” Wallace said. “I was upset. I was ticked.” Wallace says she experienced harassment after she used a single stall woman’s bathroom where she feels safer and more comfortable See HOSTESS on page 8
Courtesy Westchester Fire Department/Facebook
Fire personnel responding to the house fire on Windsor Drive in Westchester Monday night.
No injuries in major Westchester house fire By Community Editor
Westchester Fire Department officials explained in a statement that no one was injured in a major house fire in Westchester on Jan. 16. The Westchester Fire Department was dispatched to the residential structure fire on Windsor Drive at approximately 5 p.m., with fire departments from
surrounding villages — including Berkeley, Bellwood, Broadview, Elmhurst, Hillside, Maywood and North Riverside — arriving minutes later. Fire personnel from Melrose Park and Berwyn “provided coverage in Westchester fire stations,” Westchester Fire Department officials explained in the statement.
“Westchester crews made an aggressive interior attack and extinguished the fire,” officials added. “Due to working smoke detectors, all residents and pets exited safely. There were no injuries. The home was severely damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”