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   Vol. 68/No. 19           May 18, 2004  
 
 
Brooklyn bakery workers say ‘no’ to givebacks
 
BY DAN FEIN  
BROOKLYN, New York—Sixty-five bakery workers have been on strike against Acme Cake Company since they walked out April 25 at 3:00 a.m. “We have had no raises for two years,” said Eduardo Rodríguez, a 25-year employee at the company, who runs a wrapping machine. “For the past year, we worked one hour per week without pay at the company’s request, on the promise of a pay raise in the new union contract. Now they say there will be no raise, so we are on strike.”

Starting pay is $7 per hour for these members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 3, said Rodríguez.

“The vote last Saturday was unanimous to reject the company’s proposal and go on strike. Sixty out of 65 union members attended the meeting and voted,” said Larry Atkins, secretary treasurer of the local. “Four scabs were hired the first day of the strike, but none returned the next day.”

Hector Fontanez, who works in shipping, said the company “wants too many givebacks and no increases. They want us to go back 25 years. In this economy, prices are going up for rent, food, and milk.” Fontanez pointed to a company demand to take one week’s vacation from all workers.

Acme Cake Company supplies pastries, cakes, muffins, and donuts to outlets in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The company is trying to put out some production during the walkout with management personnel, and is buying goods from local nonunion bakeries in order to fill its orders.

The cops told strikers they can’t picket the truck entrance to the plant, and have put up metal barricades on the sidewalk to pen the strikers into a single area.  
 
 
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