AMERICAN LABOUR NEW YORK:

MOTTS STRIKE GOES PAST 100 DAY MARK:

Molly has blogged before on the strike at the Motts' production facility in Williamson New York (see here, here, here, here and here). At least one of those posts gathered quite a bit of comment, including a mendacious posting from what I presume was a member of Motts management. Now this strike is beginning to take on epic proportions with national and even international (Canada) repercussions. On the one side is a corporate management that seems determined to live up (down ?) to the classic image of an evil top hatted capitalist, twirling mustache and all, with its CEO making $6.5 million a year and so "devoted" to keeping the company afloat that he was off on a "hunting trip to New Zealand" while the strike was ongoing. On the other side stands what one article in the Nation magazine describes as "gun fans, military veterans and motorcycle riders" ie a selection of ordinary people whom the "left" loves to look down on who are now carrying out the most visible example of class struggle in the USA. With, however, the support of the local community, of union members across the continent and even of some otherwise anti-union politicians this small band of workers may be the test case of whether the corporate ruling class can carry out their full program of 'peonizing' US workers.

Here's an article and appeal from the AFL-CIO Blog about this important event.

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100 days of fighting the low waging of America:

For 100 days, more than 300 Mott’s workers in Williamson, N.Y., have been on strike, fighting the low-waging of America. The Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the corporate conglomerate that owns Mott’s (of apple juice and apple sauce fame) has been trying to cut their pay and benefits—even though the company reported a net income of $555 million in 2009.

Tell Dr Pepper Snapple to back off its corporate greed and treat the Mott’s workers fairly.

Dr Pepper Snapple is taking advantage of the recession and high unemployment rates in the area to beat down the workers, members of RWDSU/UFCW Local 220. A spokesman told The New York Times recently the company’s just trying to take wages down to meet “local industry standards”—in other words, to make recession-era wages the norm.

Dr Pepper Snapple is demanding wage cuts that would amount to $3,000 a year per worker, ending pensions for new hires, cutting the company’s 401(k) retirement contributions and increasing employee health care costs.

This is a 142-year-old company with a product that’s as American as you can get—a company you thought you knew and could trust. It’s a company that symbolizes everything we’re fighting for—and everything we’re fighting against: the low-waging of America.

This strike isn’t just about Williamson, N.Y. As The Times put it, “if the Mott’s workers lose this showdown, it could prompt other profitable companies to push for major labor concessions.”

If America’s economy is going to recover, we need paychecks that can fuel consumption. And if profitable companies are allowed to use the recession to drive America’s middle class out of existence, it’s unconscionable.

Don’t be silent about the low-waging of America. Support the Mott’s workers who have been walking the picket line for 100 days. Act now.

Tell Dr Pepper Snapple to back off its corporate greed and treat the Mott’s workers fairly.

Thank you for taking action for the Mott’s workers and all working families. Please forward this e-mail to at least five friends and urge them to take action, too.

In solidarity,

AFL-CIO Working Families e-Activist Network

P.S. The RWDSU Mott’s Hardship Fund has been established to help aid Mott’s workers affected by the strike. Donations to this fund will be used to help offset hardships being faced by Local 220 members as a result of their strike against the corporate greed of Mott’s/Dr. Pepper Snapple. Please consider making a contribution to the strike fund by clicking here.
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THE LETTER:
Please copy and paste the following letter, and send it to Motts management at this email address:.
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Dear Dr Pepper Snapple,

With record-breaking profits, your company has no justification to cut the pay and benefits of the more than 300 Mott’s workers in Williamson, N.Y. In saying you want to bring their wages down to “local industry standards,” you are trying to take advantage of the recession and high unemployment rates to lift your profits even higher.

Your workers deserve better. And so do workers at other profitable companies that might try to follow your shameful example.

Mott’s is a 142-year-old company with a product that’s as American as you can get—a company we all thought we knew and could trust. I hope you realize you are jeopardizing a well-known, well-established and respected brand. That’s a lot to throw away.

I urge you to back off your attack on the Mott’s workers’ wages and benefits and do the right thing.

CANADIAN LABOUR AMERICAN LABOUR:

NO TO MOTTS:

Seems that the Mott's company is waging a campaign to have the Caesar declared the "national cocktail" of Canada. I never knew that countries had "national cocktails", and I'm sure that this would be an occasion for endless puns. If the idea ever takes off, however, Mott's behavior would probably fit it to be the 'national cocktail' of a place like North Korea. Molly has blogged before on the long standing strike at the Mott's plant in Williamson New York. In response to this latest Canadian campaign the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada have opened a petition in solidarity with their American fellow workers and against the Motts campaign. Here's the story >>>>

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No to Clamato! Down with Caesar!

Mix one part greed with a big dash of corporate bullying, and what you get is the company behind Mott’s Clamato beverage.

Doesn’t sound very Canadian does it? Well, Mott’s isn’t Canadian, and Clamato isn’t made in Canada — so don’t be fooled by a new campaign to have the Clamato Caesar named the national cocktail of Canada!

Mott’s Clamato is a brand owned by Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) Group — the hugely successful multinational which has tried to force a bitter and malicious cocktail of wage and pension cuts on 300 workers at a very profitable Mott’s plant in Williamson, New York.

That’s why tens of thousands of activists across Canada and the USA have said NO to buying Mott’s products — including Clamato — to show their support for the UFCW/RWDSU Local 220 workers in Williamson, New York.


So add your name to the petition and say “NO to Clamato" and "Down with Caesar” until the DPS/Motts empire stops acting like a bunch of dictators.

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THE PETITION

Please go to the UFCW.CA website to see and sign the following petition and also to play their exciting online game of 'bean the Mott's executive'.

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I say NO to Clamato and Down with Caesar because of DPS/Mott’s shameful treatment of UFCW/RWDSU Local 220 workers in Williamson, New York. Canadians believe in justice, fairness and honesty — not the malice now being served up by Clamato headquarters.

AMERICAN LABOUR NEW YORK:

SCABS IN THE SAUCE:

Molly has blogged before about the strike at the Mott's facility in Williamson New York. The strike continues, and the company has hired scabs to try and break the strike. The following appeal from the American Rights At Work group asks you to register your support for the striking workers.

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Tell Mott's: get the scabs out of your applesauce!
Even in a depressed economy, Mott's – the huge applesauce and juice company – is thriving. Just last year, its parent company earned $555 million in profits.

But instead of rewarding its workers for that success, Mott’s is keeping all the profits – and then some. At one facility in Williamson, NY, management tried to slash workers’ wages by as much as $1.50 per hour AND take away their pension plan! And when the workers went on strike, Mott’s hired strike breakers – otherwise known as scabs – to cross the picket line.

Tell the President of Mott’s parent company: Mott's workers deserve better!

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THE LETTER

Please go to this link to send the following letter to Mott's management.

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As a consumer who cares about how a company treats its workers, I am writing to express my concern about the Mott's facility in upstate New York. It has come to my attention that strike breakers are being brought in, and that Mott's management continues to avoid negotiating with workers fairly.

Mott's is a profitable and financially healthy company, and it's outrageous that the company would seek to take advantage of a distressed economy to inflict further economic pain on workers in upstate New York. Mott's actions also threaten to put hundreds of independent apple farmers out of business. I urge you to work with the union to reach a fair contract that protects workers' pay and retirement.

AMERICAN LABOUR NEW YORK:

MOTTS WORKERS STATEMENT:

Molly has blogged several times on the Motts strike in New York State. Here's the statement from the workers involved via the RWDSU.

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Click the graphic to read the statement.