Friendship Dairies workers vote unanimously to strike over 2 key issues with Saputo Dairy
More than 230 Friendship Dairies employees are on strike following the expiration of a five-year contract and the rejection of parent company Saputo Dairy's "last, best and final offer."
In a statement, Teamsters Local 264 said it is resisting the company's attempt to "gut their health care and seniority benefits only weeks before Thanksgiving."
The contract expired Oct. 31 and Tuesday's strike vote was unanimous, the union said.
Workers began picketing Wednesday outside the Allegany County plant and will continue “24-7,” said Darrin Ziemba, Local 264 recording secretary and business agent.
Ziemba said the two sides began negotiations for a new contract in September. Ziemba said the union demonstrated flexibility during negotiations by offering to accept deals of various length, including three-year or five-year agreements.
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With the strike underway, Ziemba said the company is now refusing to talk with the union.
“I think this (strike) is going to go on for a little bit here,” Ziemba said. “These people are deserving. They are not asking for everything. They are asking for a piece of the pie.”
Saputo Dairy 'committed to continuing negotiations'
In response to inquiries, Saputo issued a statement that said, “We are committed to continuing negotiations in good faith to reach a new collective agreement for our valued teammates. Our intent is to resolve outstanding items with union representatives amicably and swiftly.”
The company declined to respond to questions about the union's allegations or the current status of contract talks.
Saputo offer called 'concessionary'
Strikers called Montreal-based Saputo’s last proposal “concessionary,” arguing it would raise workers’ health insurance costs more than the company is offering to increase their pay.
“The company told us that they went above and beyond during the pandemic, but they did nothing for 250 people,” said Dawn Freeman, who has worked at the facility for 28 years and serves on the contract negotiating committee. “We got no raises, no incentives and what they’re proposing now is a slap in the face. We’re not here to get rich. We’re here to survive, but with this proposal we can’t even do that.”
The union cited Saputo’s 2021 shareholders report, saying it proves the company generated $11.5 billion in revenue last year.
In a recent financial statement, Saputo reported revenues of $3.7 billion for the quarter ending September 30, 2021.
"These workers didn't get anything extra from the company during the entire pandemic – not a bonus, not a paid day off, nothing," Ziemba said. "Now they want to increase health care costs to the point where our members will effectively be taking a pay cut.
"These people are not asking for the whole pie. They are asking for a piece and they deserve it.”
Major private-sector employer in Allegany County
Friendship Dairies is one of the largest private-sector employers in Allegany County. The plant produces a variety of dairy products including cottage cheese, sour cream, farmer cheese and buttermilk.
Striking workers have jobs in the warehouse, the whey department, production, the cooler and maintenance, a union official said, and union members comprise most of the workforce, aside from management and supervisors.
Founded in 1954, Saputo has 67 manufacturing facilities and approximately 18,000 employees in the United States, Canada and overseas. The company said it annually processes over 11 billion liters of milk into a variety of cheeses, as well as a other dairy products and ingredients that are sold in over 60 countries.
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Friendship Dairies workers on strike after Saputo Dairy deal expires
