 |
| Western Territory General Vice President Gary Allen, right, joined striking Local 79 members who are fighting for justice at Belshaw Adamatic Bakery Group in Auburn, WA. |
One of the world’s largest global union federations, IndustriALL, is joining the fight being waged by 60 IAM Local 79 members who have been on strike against Belshaw Adamatic Bakery Group in Auburn, WA since March 24.
“We extend our solidarity and support to all the union members involved in this dispute to fight corporate greed,” said Jyrki Raina, General Secretary of IndustriALL, in a statement that brings global attention to the unfair treatment by the Belshaw Adamatic management.
IAM members and other supporters can help by clicking here to join IndustriALL’s message of solidarity to the strikers and click here to send a message to Belshaw management and related companies protesting Belshaw’s unfair behavior and demanding that Belshaw negotiate fairly.
IndustriALL’s show of international solidarity comes after members of Local 79 rejected a modified offer from Belshaw that includes language allowing replacement workers to continue working after the strike. Thirty-nine of the 60 bargaining unit jobs have been filled with replacement workers since the strike began.
The members of Local 79, who manufacture high-quality bakery equipment used around the world, are in unanimous agreement that they will not ratify a proposal that allows Belshaw to keep permanent replacement workers.
Prior to the expiration of the previous collective bargaining agreement, IAM representatives at Belshaw proposed a medical plan that saved the company more than $20,000 per month while also proposing that part of those savings be returned to employees in higher wages. The company accepted the offered medical plan while refusing to share the cost savings with employees.
IAM members are urged to show their support for the Belshaw workers by sending both IndustriALL’s message of solidarity and the letter to Belshaw and related companies that we stand united with our fellow workers in their steadfast determination in seeking fair and equitable wage increases and appropriate assurances in the improvement of working conditions and job security.
Click here to join IndustriALL’s message of solidarity to the strikers.
Click here to send a message to Belshaw management and related companies protesting Belshaw’s unfair behavior and demanding that Belshaw negotiate fairly.
