NYC Stella D’Oro Workers File NLRB Charge To Fight Plant Closing

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/11520

By Doug Cunningham

In New York City workers at Stella D’Oro are filing an NLRB charge alleging that a private equity company is illegally closing the plant to avoid the union. Stella D’Oro makes cookies, breakfast treats and breadsticks. Workers in Local 50 of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers went on strike last August when the new private equity owner – Brynwood Partners – demanded a $5 an hour wage cut as well as cuts in pensions and benefits. The workers charged the company violated labor law and the company was ordered to allow the workers to return to work and to pay back wages with interest. Shortly after they returned to work the company notified them it was closing the plant. Local 50 President Joyce Alston.

: “We cannot allow companies to use fear to force us into situations where we have jobs that can’t sustain our lifestyle. And we’re not talkin’ about getting’ rich, we’re talkin’ about just maintaining a decent life. We have to stand up to this fight. And fortunately for us we have a lot of unions and a lot of politicians coming on board. I mean, they understand why we're doin' what we're doin'.”

[imdjh]

1. I don't understand why the workers can't buy the factory and make it a co-op.

Fuck Stella D'oro. From what I have read, the only reason they are in business is because they make some cookies that have no butter or eggs in them. Can you imagine how inexpensive it is to manufacture cookies with no butter?