Episode 71: Labor Day Series: BCTGM Union Workers Strike Nabisco

Since August 10th, bakery plant workers who make Oreos, Ritz and Chips Ahoy in five states across the country, have walked off the job. The parent company of Nabisco, a multinational food conglomerate called Mondelez, has closed multiple facilities, including a legacy plant in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and has already laid off thousands while sending jobs to other countries at a much lower pay scale. The Checkout spoke with three BCTGM workers about their experiences at work, how the company has degraded conditions, compensation and benefits, and what the workers hope to achieve through direct action.

Guests Include:

Lisa Gregory, BCTGM International Representative, East-Central Region.

Mike Burlingham, BCTGM Local 364 Vice President, Portland, Oregon.

Carl Miller, BCTGM Local 358, 34 Year-veteran, Richmond, Virginia.

GOFUNDME LINK:
"Starting August 10, 2021, BCTGM Local 364 in Portland, OR is on strike against Nabisco. While on strike, workers do not get paid. Nabisco wants to take away our wages and our benefits and all we want to do is hold on to what we have. We are fundraising to help our members get through this time and supply our strike line."

To view the GoFundMe please visit:
https://gf.me/v/c/q84z/bctgm-local-364-strike-support

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Episode #71 Notes

Interview #1 with Lisa Gregory and Carl Miller of BCTGM

1:15 - Food industry experience

2:00 - Working on the Nabisco bakery production line.

4:00 - Lisa’s role at BCTGM Union.

5:00 - What has it been like working in food manufacturing during COVID?

9:00 - How many union members fell ill during COVID?

11:30 - On organizing efforts at their food manufacturing facility.

17:00 - The effects of working under onerous management.

18:00 - On PRO-ACT and how it would help unionizing efforts.

22:00 - What has inspired the current wave of strikes at Nabisco?

28:00 - What’s at stake with these union organizing efforts, and how you can help.

Mike Burlingham, Portland Local 364 of BCTGM

33:30 - On Mike’s work experience at Nabisco.

35:30 - What does it mean to be a baker? What’s the job like?

37:00 - What is it like working in the facility during COVID?

42:00 - How have business decisions made affected jobs and livelihoods of the workers?

47:00 - What has inspired the current wave of Nabisco strikes?

55:00 - How you can support the organizing efforts.