Vol. 73/No. 24      June 22, 2009

Some 500 people joined the rally here and then marched to the factory. Speakers included strikers; Joyce Alston, president of the striking union, Local 50 of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union; and members of the Committee in Support of the Stella D’oro Strikers. The march was lively, with chants of “No contract, no cookies!” and “Boycott Stella D’oro!”

When the march arrived outside the plant about 100 marchers ran through police barricades toward the factory gates. Police quickly closed the barricades to prevent more from doing so. According to one of the strikers, Eddie Marrero, no one was working that day since the company knew the protest would be taking place. The company has had replacement workers in the plant since the strike began.

Nearly 10 months ago all 136 workers at the plant represented by the union walked out over an unacceptable contract offer.

Brynwood Partners, which owns Stella D’oro, proposed a contract that slashed wages by up to 25 percent for some workers, cut paid sick days and vacations, and would have made workers pay substantially more for health insurance. The company has since “offered” to transfer the workers’ retirement funds from a pension plan to a 401(k).

The strike has been gaining steady support from other unions. Represented at the May 30 rally were the United Federation of Teachers; District Council 37 locals 1930 and 375; Professional Staff Congress-CUNY; Domestic Workers United; New York Nurses United; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. Two busloads of teachers from New York State United Teachers attended.

Joycelyn Campbell, a Domestic Workers United organizer, spoke at the rally. “We support our allies,” she told the Militant. “These people have been in crisis before the crisis. Hard working people should be treated just and fair.”

Retired Stella D’oro table packer Alexandra Michelle, 66, said she was part of a strike at the plant 18 years ago. “I have to support my compañeros,” she said. “I have my pension from the international coming out of that strike. This fight is just as important.”

Striker Emelia Dorsu said defiantly, “Tell Brynwood Partners we are still here and we’ll be here until they give us a fair contract!”  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home