The Kellogg Company announced on Tuesday it will replace approximately 1,400 employees two months after they began a work strike.
The company offered the striking employees a new five-year contract, which would provide an accelerated, defined path to legacy wages and benefits for transitional employees, as well as wage increases and enhanced benefits for all workers. But the employees rejected the offer, with Kellogg claiming it had no choice “but to continue executing the next phase of our contingency plan” and hire permanent replacements, according to a statement from Kellogg.
“While certainly not the result we had hoped for, we must take the necessary steps to ensure business continuity,” said Chris Hood, president of Kellogg North America. “We have an obligation to our customers and consumers to continue to provide the cereals that they know and love.”
JOHN DEERE EMPLOYEES ACCEPT CONTRACT, ENDING MONTHLONG STRIKE
Those on strike included workers at four of the company’s U.S. cereal plants in Battle Creek, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee. Kris Bahner, a spokeswoman for the company, said interest in the replacement roles has been strong at all four plants, and the company expects some of its new hires to start with the company “very soon,” according to Reuters.
The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union, the union representing the 1,400 striking employees, said the strike will continue, and it will “provide full support to our striking Kellogg’s members,” according to its statement on Tuesday.
“The BCTGM is grateful for the outpouring of fraternal support we received from across the labor movement for our striking members at Kellogg’s,” BCTGM’s statement read. “Solidarity is critical to this fight.”
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The employees at Kellogg’s began their strike on Oct. 5. Daniel Osborn, president of the union in Omaha, said the workers were protesting a loss of premium healthcare and holiday pay and a reduction in vacation time. He also said the company has threatened to outsource some jobs to Mexico.
