City Cast Chicago logo
Display Ad: Children play near Chicago's Cloud Gate. "Big plans. Coming right up." with pizza graphic on left; "Enjoy Illinois. Meet in the middle." on right.
May 26, 2022

How Tortilleria Workers Are Trying to Make The Workplace Better

City Cast Chicago

How Tortilleria Workers Are Trying to Make The Workplace Better

00:00:00
View all City Cast Chicago episodes

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

Hey Chicago

Stay connected to City Cast Chicago and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
April 13

West Ridge YMCA For Sale, Indie Concerts Archive, and Chicago’s Worst Trades

Chicago YMCA locations have fallen on hard times in recent decades. After the West Ridge location closed in 2021, neighbors fought to sav...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 10

South Side Birthing Center, 75th Street Welcomes Visitors, and Chicago’s ‘81 Club’

Just in time for Black Doula Day, the kick off to Black Maternal Health Week, the Chicago South Side Birthing Center broke ground this we...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 9

Broadview Protesters Face Trial, Farmers Market Prices Rise, and Where to Karaoke in Chicago

The trial against the Broadview Four, a group of high-profile protesters arrested and charged with conspiracy back in September, is set t...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 8

Why Can’t the Sky Keep Stars? Plus, The Hideout’s New Ownership

Earlier this week, the ⁠Chicago Sky traded All-Star forward Angel Reese⁠ to the Atlanta Dream for two future first-round picks. Following...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 7

What to Do on Route 66 in Chicago

In April 1926, Route 66 received its iconic number. The so-called Mother Road takes you all the way to California, but it begins in Chica...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 6

Mayor Johnson vs CHA Board, Buses to O’Hare, and Hawks Miss Playoffs… Again

At the end of March, Chicago’s Housing Authority board voted 7-2 to appoint a new CEO. CHA has been without a permanent CEO since former...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 5

'Your City Could Be Better': Denver’s Bet on a Women’s Soccer Stadium — Presented By City Cast Chicago

While both Chicago and Denver have a professional Women's Soccer team (go Stars!), Denver is only the second city in the U.S. to build a...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 3

What Went Down At The Jeffs? Plus, Was Midway Blitz Martial Law?

Chicagoans are still asking if the feds will return to the city after Operation Midway blitz. WBEZ’s Curious City recently tackled whethe...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 2

Accessing Immigration Courts, Regulating Prediction Markets, and Ranking Chicago Burgers

Why are immigration court watchers in Chicago struggling to observe virtual hearings? Will Illinois regulate rapidly growing prediction m...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art
April 1

Your Guide to April 2026 in Chicago

April showers are here, but luckily we’ve got your guide to what’s happening in Chicago this month — rain or shine. Host Jacoby Cochran i...

City Cast Chicago podcast episode art