Kellogg to permanently replace striking employees as workers reject new contract

[groundloop]

Source: Reuters

Kellogg Co (K.N) said on Tuesday a majority of its U.S. cereal plant workers have voted against a new five-year contract, forcing it to hire permanent replacements as employees extend a strike that started more than two months ago.

Temporary replacements have already been working at the company's cereal plants in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Tennessee where 1,400 union members went on strike on Oct. 5 as their contracts expired and talks over payment and benefits stalled.

"Interest in the (permanent replacement) roles has been strong at all four plants, as expected. We expect some of the new hires to start with the company very soon," Kellogg spokesperson Kris Bahner said.

[snip]

The company said "unrealistic expectations" created by the union meant none of its six offers, including the latest one that was put to vote, which proposed wage increases and allowed all transitional employees with four or more years of service to move to legacy positions, came to fruition.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/kellogg-permanently-replace-striking-workers-union-rejects-new-contract-2021-12-07/

[Scrivener7]

1. No kellogs for me, then.

[Major Nikon]

15. Evah!

[PortTack]

16. Me either!!

[Sherman A1]

2. Screw Kelloggs

Their products will not come into my house until they reach an agreement with the Union.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

3. Bad move Kellogg.

So are the replacements not unionized?

[NQAS]

8. Bad move why?

Sure, from our perspective it's a bad move.

But there will be no fallout for Kellogg's. People will continue to buy their corn flakes. Heck, they may even see a spike in sales, just so the RWNJs could own the libs. Kellogg's doesn't care about its employees, and the scabs will learn that soon enough. And they may piss and moan, but they'll stick with the jobs until something better comes along. For Kellogg's, BFD. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Not even a hiccup on their share price today with this news.

There are no consequences to big business in this country. Elon Musk thumbs his nose at pretty much everyone, and the Teslas still roll off the assembly line. Heck, a whistleblower says that his solar panels catch fire. So what. He'll pay the penalties, out of petty cash, and move on. So fucking what. People hate FB and Instagram and still check in on both. Boeing built planes that crashed, and airlines still buy them and people still fly on them. Oil companies are raking in the dough even as oil prices come down a bit. Kellogg's suppliers will still sell wheat and corn and rye and barley and sugar and whatever. They'll still be able to buy the additives and preservatives. What's the downside to Kellogg's? People will badmouth them? Again, BFD. They're not even breaking a sweat.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

13. No one wins

in race to the bottom.

[cstanleytech]

35. Actually the owners of Kellogg's wins as do those that own any stock in it.

The employees and former employees are the big losers.

[The Jungle 1]

38. Not sure I agree

The job sucks. Massive OT and low wages. The workers can do better.
There are many skilled jobs in these plants and that is where the company loses. No one can just walk into and industrial plant and understand all the equipment. Down time will cost management.

[MichMan]

42. In that case why would anyone continue working there ?

Lot's of places hiring everywhere

[The Jungle 1]

44. That is exactly the message. They don't have to work there.

It is not so easy to just hire replacements. It will cost the company. Those workers own a lot of real knowledge of how the plant is run. A lot of companies failed when they ran away from the unions. (Mack Truck for one) A lot of union members financed company moves with wage cuts and still lost their jobs. These folks are being smart. Companies like to move locations slowly. Don't let them.
Bottom line, they lose their jobs either way so make it hard on the company. Force them to go all in.
Yes I have been down this road.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

40. Perhaps in the immediate term.

Race to the bottom leads to a hollowed out existence.

[rurallib]

18. Wish I could rec your post - you got a lot of truth in there

[pwb]

47. General Mills and Post cereals will get my business.

That is my big fucking deal.

[wcmagumba]

4. No more Kellogg for me either...nt

[Scrivener7]

5. Interesting that they aren't worried that "no one wants to work."

[oldsoftie]

7. They said they already had temp workers in place.

I guess they'll be offered permanent jobs. And those type jobs pay well above average so the "worker shortage" probably wouldnt affect them. We have Frito Lay plant in my area & they NEVER fail to find workers.

[Scrivener7]

17. So, it appears that when the pay is decent, there is no worker shortage. Imagine!

[cstanleytech]

23. The only actual worker shortage in this country is a willing to work for low wages worker one.

That is the real worker shortage.

[Delphinus]

36. Exactly.

[Atticus]

6. My union Dad made it clear that he would always back me "no matter what" with two exceptions.

He said he would "break my plate" if I ever crossed a picket line or worked as a SCAB!

He never had to break my plate.

[Torchlight]

9. Cheese-Its will be easy to replace in my household.

Pretty sure that's the only Kellogg's brand in our kitchen. Store brand works just as well and 22% less expensive.

[yaesu]

12. I don't eat any of there products as far as I know, not a cereal eater so makes it easier. nt

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

10. Fuck them.

[yaesu]

11. I remember Hostess shut down in '12 instead of negotiating with strikers

Hostess Brands Inc. closed all 36 of its factories Friday and filed a motion in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York to immediately liquidate and sell its assets. ... A Hostess Brands spokesman said the Irving, Texas-based company's decision to shut down and liquidate is final, even if workers decide to end their walkout.

Though Kellogg's is much better off and can afford a living wage & pensions, surprised they can arbitrarily fire everyone like that.

[NCjack]

14. I switched from corn flakes to oatmeal from Bob's Red Mill (an employee owned company).

[Wingus Dingus]

19. Not sure what to think. You'd think by offer number six you'd have something close to acceptable

to the union, but it sounds like the striking employees just maneuvered themselves out of jobs. Sometimes you can overplay your hand.

[The Jungle 1]

39. I do not agree

The workers are being worked like slaves. The plants are constantly, purposely understaffed and the workers are doing 80 hour weeks. That is a horrendous abuse of people. Management work them like animals and say but look at all the money you are making. They have NO life so is it really worth it.
So it comes down to this: Fix it or fuck it.

[duhneece]

45. Thank you. Economic slaves are still slaves. nt

[duhneece]

46. Thank you. Economic slaves are still slaves. nt

[Farmer-Rick]

41. The corporation made minor concessions

And claimed it was a huge compromise. They offered practically no changes to low wages, understaffing, mandatory overtime or off clock time.

So, no they didn't overplay their hand.

But corporations have all the power eversince Raygun betrayed the traffic control unions.

There was a time when corporations and their owners got the government to drop bombs on union workers. Thatcher sent armed police to beat up and jail striking workers. The government has always been a tool of the filthy rich and their profit extraction centers.

[dixiechiken1]

20. No Kellogg's in my house ever again...

As long as they use scab labor.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

21. Hmmmmmmmmm...

I was part of my unions contract negotiating team for several years. Management often threatened and accused, one time even sending a company wide email, blaming the union for the impasse. Needless to say, they folded and we got a contract. An expired contract is still in effect until a new one is signed. I doubt they can get away with replacing workers. It's a bluff, imho

[Maeve]

22. The only Kelloggs cereal I ever buy is Crispex

Around the holidays, because I like it better than Chex for making Chex Mix. Not this year (it's not even available due to the strike).

Chex wins this one.

[questionseverything]

24. A big part of the impasse is kellogg wanting to move plants out of the country

I don’t want my cereal shipped in from somewhere else

[whathehell]

28. Well,.that does sound like a deal breaker..

I don't understand: Why would they tbink workers would sign a contract that puts them out of a job?

[Ziggysmom]

25. Don't eat their Sugar & preservative heavy garbage 🤢

[Mawspam2]

26. Tony the Scab Tiger 🐅

They're Fired!

[Marthe48]

27. I don't buy kellogg's products

but I've noticed in the last few weeks, I can't get store brand products. I heard a long time ago that major brands often produce store brands. Same product in a different box.

I support the union and hope the rank and file keep their jobs. And factories stay in this country.

[NBachers]

30. My sign as a striking Teamster:

[BigmanPigman]

31. Special K

Not so special and never will be in this former union rep's home!!! I walked the picket line as a sub. teacher. The scabs that crossed it did not get hired when the district finally hired new teachers. I was remebered by the teacbers and I was the one who got the permanant contract, the scabs got nothing.

[Stuart G]

32. I have always liked Kellogg Cereal. Never Again. These fools haven't got a clue.

..Lots of Union People and sympathizers in the U.S.A. Stupid and sad thing to do.

Making yourself against unions forever. It is now who they are, and will always be.

..

[James48]

33. That would be illegal.

Last edited Wed Dec 8, 2021, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Under Michigan law, replacing striking workers with strike breakers is a misdemeanor.

SOLICITATION OF STRIKEBREAKERS (EXCERPT)
Act 150 of 1962


423.253 Strikes or lockouts; hiring and importing strikebreakers prohibited.
Sec. 3.

No person, partnership, firm or corporation, or officer or agent thereof, involved in a lawful strike or lockout shall hire and import or contract or arrange with any other person, partnership, agency, firm or corporation to hire and import from another state or country, for the purpose of strikebreaking, persons for employment in place of employees involved in the strike or lockout.

[Sgent]

34. That reads like its legal

as long as they don't cross state or international lines to hire them.

[James48]

48. Every advertisement on the internet

Crosses state lines and international boundaries. And likely into space as well, where no other conflicting law prohibits it.

So, yes. Put a help wanted as on indeed.com, or Craigs List, and you are crossing state lines, and in violation of that law crossing state lines to hire strike breakers.

[Angleae]

43. In addition to what Sgent sait, the workers are no longer employed at Kelloggs.

As such aren't actually "on strike" but instead protesters.

[Joinfortmill]

37. We'll see how this goes for Kellogg. Not too good, I imagine.