A contract offer made to nearly 3,000 employees by US confectionery giant Hershey Foods Corp last week has been rejected, leaving worker representatives to warn that a strike has been planned for Friday morning.
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Bruce Hummel, a spokesman for the Chocolate Workers local 464, a part of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, explained that by giving Hershey notification, the company had time to clean the manufacturing lines if the workers walk off the job.
The dispute arose over the terms of a four-year employment contract that expired last November. The workers, who represent nearly 20% of the company’s workforce, are claiming the necessity for healthcare co-payments, salary increases and retroactive wages.
Hershey spokeswoman Christine Dugan was confident that the strike will not be necessary however. She told the Wall Street Journal: “Both parties will meet with the federal mediator . . . and we remain hopeful we will be able to reach a resolution and avoid a work stoppage.”
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