Mott’s workers ‘suffering because of company’s greed’ (company made $550 mill last year CEO got $6.5

http://www.websterpost.com/opinion/x1445280526/Guest-essay-Mott-s-workers-suffering-because-of-company-s-greed

By Stuart Appelbaum
Messenger Post
Posted Jul 15, 2010 @ 04:08 PM

Canandaigua, N.Y. —

An open letter to Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association:

On behalf of the 300 members of RWDSU Local 220 currently on strike, I am pleased that you have reached out to us (guest essay, “Apple Industry Urges Resolution to Mott’s Strike,” July 7) regarding the strike at the Mott’s facility in Williamson.

I agree with your statement that the New York state growers and skilled employees of RWDSU Local 220 have both worked very hard and contributed greatly to the Mott’s brand gaining a “prominent position in the national marketplace.” I, too, agree that the cooperation of producers, employees and Mott’s has and must continue to be an integral component in the “success and sustainability of the industry.”

I understand that there are serious concerns among the grower community with respect to the current labor dispute; Mott’s is the largest processor of apples in New York, with apple growers in Wayne County relying heavily on the plant. I am also aware that some of the major grower concerns include whether Mott’s can handle the large volume of apples come harvest time, whether growers will be able to deliver their apples to Mott’s in a timely manner and what the economic impact of both will be if Mott’s is unable to accommodate the volume of apples produced by the grower community.

I feel that I must add context to what is going on. Mott’s forced its workers out on an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike on May 23, due to the company’s failure to bargain in good faith and its unilateral changes to wages and benefits even though there was no impasse in negotiations. The drastic and unprecedented wage and benefit cuts included a $1.50/hour across-the-board wage reduction, a freeze in pension benefits, a 20 percent reduction of the employer match to the 401K plan, and other negative changes to the employees’ health insurance plan.

This is all despite the fact that Dr Pepper Snapple is a very profitable company and, by its own admission, its demands are not based on financial need. Mott’s has publicly stated that it wants to bring wages at the plant in line with what other workers make in the area.

In other words, at a time when a bad economy has depressed wages for other workers, Mott’s and Dr Pepper Snapple want to take advantage of the situation to pay their workers less. At the same time, Dr Pepper Snapple sees fit to pay its CEO an astounding $6.5 million in compensation last year — which represents a 113 percent increase from three years ago.


FULL story at link.

Solidarity!

and 'cause I'm in the area and love to wave and honk at the striking workers whenever I pass by. :-)

It basically said that even with a wage cut, their workers still made more than at any other plant. Oookay. So they should shut up and be happy, apparently?

That is just... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Mott's should be ashamed of itself.

But no! Like any good avaricious corp, it takes out a high dollar display ad to brag that its greed "isn't as bad as other companies' greed!"

That's about the spin of it...