El Milagro

Little Village - An employee-led work stoppage at the El Milagro tortilla factory turned into a lockout Thursday night. The employees at El Milagro tortilla factory partnered with Arise Chicago to stage a two-hour walkout at 2140 S. Western Ave. as they call for safer working conditions and higher wages. But they were locked out with their belongings inside, and they were only allowed to collect their personal items after hours of negotiations with the factory’s leaders. Workers were allowed back in Friday morning to work, but an armed security guard was present. The walkout had been planned beforehand. Workers informed management they would leave the factory at 5 p.m. Thursday and return after two hours.