February 5, 2009
After four years of waiting IAM members that work at Interstate Bakeries can breathe a collective sigh of relief. On February 3, 2009 Interstate Bakeries Corporation, or IBC, received word that the courts had approved their financing and that they could start to operate without the protection of the courts. This is good news for the 232 members of the IAM, which is a small but important group at IBC locations in North America. IAM Technicians maintain the trucks that deliver products to the many stores and outlets and other equipment as well as maintain the facilities where product is produced. Overall there are 19,000 union members at IBC, 8500 which belong to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, IBT, and 2200 members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union, BCTGM. IBC was once the largest baker in the US who's products like Wonder Bread, Hostess Cakes and Dolly Madison were household names. The IAM Collective Bargaining Department with the support of IAM Strategic Resources Department and Business Representatives from sites across the country negotiated a Master Agreement with IBC which will expire in July of 2013.
