The Militant - December 30, 2013 -- Standing up has made us stronger, say workers locked out by Kellogg

Vol. 77/No. 47 December 30, 2013

(front page)
Standing up has made us stronger,
say workers locked out by Kellogg

Militant/Susan LaMont

Locked-out workers picket Kellogg plant in Memphis, Tenn., Dec. 13. From left, Scott Harmon, Sandra Henderson, Jeanette McGraw, Scott Cargile, Andre Matthews and Michael Plasky.

BY DAVE FERGUSON
AND SUSAN LAMONT
MEMPHIS, Tenn. –– “The lockout has brought us closer as a body. It’s made us stronger,” Rob Eafen, 42, a mechanic at Kellogg Company’s cereal plant here, said during a Dec. 14 visit to the picket line. Eafen is one of 226 members of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 252G who joined round-the-clock picketing at the plant after the company locked them out Oct. 22.

The central issue is Kellogg’s drive to hire temporary, part-time workers at the plant, at $6 less per hour and with fewer benefits and rights than current workers.

“We’ve had many people from other unions, retirees from our local and others in the community bring food and fuel to show their support for us,” Local 252G member Jim Archie said. Passing motorists frequently waved and honked their horns in solidarity.

Kellogg, a food-processing giant with operations in 18 countries, announced in November that it plans to cut its global workforce by 7 percent. On Dec. 10 it said it will close its cereal plant in London, Ontario, laying off 500 workers by the end of 2014.

“The Ontario shutdown is aimed at getting rid of the union,” Michael Plasky said on the picket line. “Kellogg opened a non-union plant in 2008 not far from the union plant they are shutting down.”

Kellogg is using scabs to run the Memphis plant.

“I never thought this would happen. And I sure didn’t think it would last this long,” said Tim Riggs, who has worked at the plant for 12 years. “I’ve got a lot of new friends now, co-workers I didn’t really know before. And we’ve gotten closer to the other Kellogg locals and to other union members in Memphis.”

Kellogg spokesperson Kris Charles told the Militant that the company will end the lockout when “we agree to a fair and competitive contract.”

“This is the same thing the company has been saying all along,” Local 252G President Kevin Bradshaw said by phone Dec. 17. “The company wants to create a two-tier setup, with new hires getting lower wages and less benefits.”

Contributions to a fund for the locked-out unionists can be made payable to “Local 252G Hardship” at BCTGM Local 252G, 3035 Directors Row, Building A #1310, Memphis, TN 38131-0417.

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