Labor & Employment Law

Union: Wendy?s Robs Bakery Workers of Hard-Earned Health Care, Pensions

By Mike Hall

Wendy’s New Bakery Co., part of the Wendy’s/Arby’s Group fast-food chain, has illegally implemented concessionary contract terms proposed in bargaining at its Zanesville, Ohio, plant, according to federal unfair labor practice charges filed yesterday by Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 57. The 150 workers at the plant have been in negotiations for a new contract since March.

The union says the unilateral action by company guts the current health care plan, eliminates the pension plan and takes away workers’ rights guaranteed under the previous contract. BCTGM President Frank Hurt calls the action by the Wendy’s/Arby’s Group “a disgrace.”

For nearly three decades, members of Bakers Local 57 have taken pride in the quality products they make for Wendy’s stores and customers. The New Bakery workers have sacrificed much over the years in order to secure a quality contract with good health care coverage and a solid, guaranteed pension for themselves and their families. We will not quietly stand by and watch this company rob our members of their hard-earned benefits.

The company claims contract talks are at an impasse. But BCTGM representative John Price says the union has urged that talks continue and has offered dates to resume negotiations. He told Zanesville Times Recorder:

The company has been trying to force things on us since the beginning. They seem to have forgotten what a negotiation is about.

BCTGM has filed additional unfair labor practice charges claiming the plant’s manager has attempted to intimidate workers through surveillance of union activity, as well as specific efforts by management to circumvent the union by bargaining directly with individual employees. Says Hurt:

We intend to take all necessary and appropriate action to support our members, including a worldwide consumer boycott of Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurants if necessary.

The global union movement has thrown its support to the Ohio workers. In a letter to Wendy’s/Arby’s Group CEO and President Roland Smith, International Union of Food Workers (IUF) President Ron Oswald writes:

On behalf of the 12 million workers in 383 trade unions in 120 countries affiliated with the IUF, I ask you to direct your negotiators to return to the bargaining table and abandon their assault on the contract BCTGM Local 57 has with New Bakery workers. Stop demanding that your workers give up their health insurance and pensions and negotiate a fair contract.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on December 11, 2009 (boomark / email).