BUFFALO, N.Y. — More than 100 workers are on the picket line in Buffalo.
According to the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union (BCTGM), 165 members who make Milk-bone dog treats at the JM Smucker plant are fighting back against increased health care costs, low wages, and their treatment by the company.
Union leaders said in their final negotiations with the company, they say they were offered a worse contract than the offer before it... and allegedly intimidated the workers.
“The union members had hoped to improve their sub-par medical plan when they entered bargaining,” reports Chief Negotiator/BCTGM International Vice President Roger Miller in a release on the union's website. “Instead, the company proposed to increase the cost of it. This is a deal-breaker, especially since it would offset any wage increase they were able to win.”
The union says it is now filing charges with the national labor relations board.
"We met with the company one last time to avoid a strike. The final straw that pushed the membership onto the street was the company’s regressive bargaining, in an offer that took steps backwards from its previous offer,” Miller said. “Charges are being filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for threatening and intimidating the workers, as well as the flagrant attempt to move us backwards in negotiations."
Frank Cirillo, a spokesperson for JM Smuckers issued this statement:
"We were disappointed to learn of the Buffalo BCTGM Local 36G Union’s decision to strike. 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 BCTGM, 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. We have enacted contingency plans including shipping existing inventory and leveraging complementary labor to support production. We will also maintain production of our Milk-Bone dog snacks at our other manufacturing facilities as well as several co-packers."