KENSINGTON, Md., Aug. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than
1,300 members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and
Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) at four Kellogg cereal
plants across the United States
voted to ratify a new five-year Master Contract to replace the one
set to expire on October 3, 2015. The
locations of the plants included under the new Agreement are
Lancaster, Pa., Battle Creek, Mich., Omaha, Neb., and Memphis, Tenn.
The five-year deal between BCTGM Locals 3G, 50G, 252G and 374G,
the BCTGM International Union and the Kellogg Company includes a
five-year moratorium on any plant closings, solid wage and pension
increases and maintenance of health care benefits. Kellogg
approached the Union to conduct the negotiations early in hopes of
arriving at an amicable agreement well before the contract
expiration. Members of the locals authorized their leadership to
engage Kellogg in these early negotiations.
Jethro Head, BCTGM International
Vice President who chaired the Union negotiating team together with
International Secretary-Treasurer Steven
Bertelli, was assisted by representatives of each of the
local unions. "This was as fine a team effort as I've been involved
with in any negotiations. These negotiations were not easy and the
local union leaders worked diligently to address the issues. They
made difficult and important decisions on behalf of their
respective members. They should be proud of their accomplishments
and the solidarity that they showed during the process," Vice
President Head states.
Head adds, "The five-year moratorium on plant closings provides
our members with a sense of security and hope for the future.
Additionally, the moratorium offers the strong likelihood of
repatriation of production from non-union facilities in
North America to BCTGM-represented
factories."
"These employees and their families will continue to enjoy a
premier wage and benefit package and can face their future
employment prospects with renewed confidence in both their active
employment and into their retirement years," explains
Secretary-Treasurer Bertelli. "Our members have been
dedicated to their work for Kellogg and that dedication will
continue to be rewarded under this new Agreement as they produce
the quality Kellogg cereal brands that are recognized around the
world," reflects Bertelli.
This new five-year Agreement comes on the heels of a nearly
10-month lockout of the Memphis
workforce which ended with an injunction by a Federal Judge one
year to the day that the membership of the local unions voted to
ratify this new Contract.
David B. Durkee, BCTGM
International President, believes that the conclusion of this new
Agreement could lead to a revitalized, constructive and mutually
beneficial working partnership between Kellogg, its union workforce
and the BCTGM; a relationship that can open the door for new BCTGM
jobs at Kellogg and the creation of a dynamic synergy for the
company in today's marketplace.
"The greatest asset any employer has is a dedicated and skilled
workforce. Our members, represented by these four BCTGM local
unions, are the hard working men and women who daily build these
brands from the bottom up. Their exemplary commitment to their work
results in the production of Kellogg's iconic products that are
enjoyed in millions of homes," explains President Durkee.
"I highly commend the BCTGM leadership team that negotiated this
Agreement and the membership of our Ready to Eat Cereal locals and
Kellogg for arriving at this quality five-year Agreement,"
concludes Durkee.
Contact: Ron Baker, BCTGM
International Strategic Campaign Coordinator, (703)
508-2637
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SOURCE Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers
International Union (BCTGM)