Nabisco workers protest layoffs and downsizing
2016Mark Ugolini 2016-06Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 4 →
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A spirited and determined group of about 150 cur rent and former Nabisco bakery workers and their supporters demonstrated on May 18 at Mondelez International’s annual shareholder meeting in Lin colnshire, Ill. Workers protested the company’s deci sion to lay off 600 of the 1200 workers at its South west side Chicago plant.
Mondelez International is the parent company of Nabisco, which makes snack foods including Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers. They have recently opened a modern plant in Salinas, Mexico, where they have invested $130 million, and plan to trans fer some of the Chicago Nabisco plant’s production there. In 2015, Mondelez posted over $30 billion in revenue.
The protest was organized by the Bakery, Confec tionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Inter national Union (BCTGM) and its Chicago Local 300, which represents most of the workers at the Chicago plant.
BCTGM workers from locals in Cleveland; Atlanta, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Battle Creek, Mich., partici pated, as well as supporters from the Chicago Teach ers Union, UAW local 551, Fight for $15, and Jobs for Justice.
Prior to a rally, I spoke with BCTGM Local 300 Pres ident Edward Burpo, who described what the union is facing: “277 received their notification of pink slip on Jan. 19. They were let go on March 23. Another 43 have received their notification of pink slip and they are designated to be let go on May 27.” He told me that the union expects another round of layoffs prior to Labor Day, and by the end of the year a total of 600 bakery workers will have lost their jobs.
“They are downsizing the plant itself,” Burpo said, “At the end of July we should be downsized from 17 lines to six, and the equipment is already being taken out.”
Workers at the protest were demanding that Mon delez shareholders reverse the decision of CEO Irene Rosenfeld and reinstate the laid-off workers. A delegation of union members went inside the share holders meeting to present their case.
Reporting on the shareholders meeting, the Chica banners at the rally conveyed a nationalistic “Ameri ca First” and protectionist “Buy American” tone. Said Jethro Head, reflecting the view of the International union leadership: “Let’s send a message across the country—Do Not Buy Mexican-made Nabisco Prod ucts!” He then led the crowd in chanting, “Mexico Hell No!” Many in the crowd did not participate in this chant.
The problem with this approach is that it appeals to American chauvinism, and paints Mexican work ers as the enemy of working people in this country. It poses the issue as one of competition between Mexi can and U.S. workers, and aids ruling-class efforts to divide working people from each other.
In fact, our struggle is one with Mexican workers in demanding that our capitalist governments pro vide good jobs for all and union rights regardless of which side of the boarder we happen to live on. Revolutionary socialists are internationalists, work ing to build solidarity among workers everywhere.
To fight against unemployment and for good pay ing jobs, we demand government-funded publicworks programs. These can rebuild badly needed infrastructure, build things we need—like housing and schools—and put millions of unemployed back to work at union wages.
This program includes immigrant workers as well. Part of the struggle is to demand an end to depor tations and all forms of scapegoating of immigrant workers, and to extend to them “legal protections” afforded to other citizens. n