BUFFALO, N.Y. — Machinists at Buffalo's Milkbone plant are now on the picket line.
Contract negotiations between the International Association of Machinists (IAM) and the JM Smucker Company, which owns the plant, broke down over the weekend.
Two other unions that work within the plant are still operating as of Wednesday morning.
Workers tell 2 On Your Side, it's all about fair wages and keeping up with inflation. "I did reach out to the company yesterday and told the company we are willing and able to continue bargaining any time any place and that offer still stands," said Rick Darn, IAM Representative.
2 On Your Side received a statement from JM Smuckers regarding the negotiations.
"We were disappointed to learn of the Buffalo IAM Union’s decision to strike, despite having reached alignment with Union leadership on a fully recommended tentative agreement last Wednesday. We have a strong track record of providing competitive wages and benefits to all employees and have always engaged fairly and transparently in our negotiations with our Union partners. Regarding our negotiations with the IAM, we are confident the agreement put forward was not only fair but competitive based on the current market. While we manage this issue, we remain committed to delivering on the needs of consumers and do not anticipate an immediate impact to product availability. A majority of our Buffalo employees are not participating in the strike and will continue operations at our facility. We will also maintain production of our Milk-Bone dog snacks at our Topeka, Kansas, manufacturing facility, as well as several co-packers."