Union members at a B&G Foods Wisconsin plant in the US have voted to authorise strike action at the facility.
In a statement issued yesterday (23 March), Teamsters Local 120 said workers represented by the union at the site in Stoughton, Wisconsin, supported potential work stoppages for “fair wages, affordable health care, and improved working conditions”. The union described the plant as an “understaffed facility”.
Teamsters Local 120 represents more than 15,000 workers across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Alongside pay and benefits, the workers are seeking stronger contract protections, including “successorship” language that would require any future owner of the facility to honour the existing collective bargaining agreement in the event of a sale.
In addition, the union said workers want “protections around automation” to ensure the introduction of new systems do not lead to job losses.
The Stoughton plant manufactures a number of B&G Foods products, including Cream of Wheat cereal, Skinnygirl salad dressing and Ortega taco sauce.
Teamsters Local 120 business agent Shaun Mullikin said: “B&G Foods is taking advantage of a workforce that keeps its Stoughton operation running.
“Meanwhile, workers are dealing with long hours and rising costs, while the company refuses to make basic improvements. Fair pay, decent health care and reasonable hours shouldn't be a fight – but, right now, they are.”
Just Food contacted B&G Foods for comment.
B&G Foods said in a statement it is "continuing to bargain in good faith in an effort to reach a new labour agreement that is beneficial to our employees as well as the business".
Acknowledging the workers' vote to strike, the company added: "In our experience, however, these votes are often held by unions as a matter of course in the negotiation process.
"Regardless of whether there is a work stoppage, we are committed to ensuring our customers and consumers will continue to receive the same level of excellence they have come to expect from us, and we will continue to make contract proposals that we believe are in the best interest of our workforce and organisation."
Teamsters confirmed with Just Food that 59 workers are employed at the plant and voted by a 98% margin to strike but it did not clarify when the industrial action is likely to take place.
The union added: "Teamsters are currently negotiating a new contract that would keep up with the rising cost of living in the Madison area, and B&G Foods is refusing to agree on a fair deal. It is entirely up to the company to come to the table with a reasonable proposal, or Teamsters Local 120 members may be forced to strike."
Headquartered in New Jersey, B&G Foods produces and distributes shelf-stable and frozen foods across the US.
The company has recently been reshaping its portfolio, including selling another Green Giant asset to Seneca Foods.
It also acquired Del Monte Foods’ broth and stock brands this year for around $110m in cash.
