The Good Fight at Mott’s

A trip to the striking workers picket line at the Mott’s plant on Route 104 in Williamson is at once inspiring and frightening if you are yourself part of the working class. You feel a sense of bravado driven by desperation in the 300 blue-collar industrial workers who walk the perimeter of the Mott’s property around the clock discouraging strike-breaking scabs from crossing the picket line.

Mott’s, once a worker-friendly hometown company, is now owned by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (DPSG) from Plano, Texas. DPSG made a record $555 million in profit last year and it’s President and CEO Larry Young was given a whopping $6.6 million in compensation. In a tight economy Dr. Pepper Snapple Group generates that kind of profit the old-fashioned way: by oppressing workers. Weeks ago DPSG dumped a “take it or leave it” contract proposal on workers calling for an across the board wage cut of $1.50 hour, greatly increased health care premiums, medical co-pays and deductibles in the thousands of dollars, pension freezes and cuts in company 401k contributions. Plus Mott’s insists on arbitrary changes in job descriptions designed to lower salaries and displace skilled senior workers. For weeks DPSG negotiators have refused to return to the bargaining table despite the fact that workers are proposing a “flat contract” which only continues their current agreement without an increase in salary.

The perceived arrogance and greed of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group has generated widespread community support for the Mott’s plant workers as evidenced by the almost continuous supportive honking of passing vehicles. On Monday morning bags of food were being dropped off for strikers and representatives of several other unions including CSEA, SEIU, NYSUT, Pride at Work AFL-CIO and NGU (Next Generation United) walked the line in solidarity. Rochester Labor Council, led by President Jim Bertolone have joined the line previously.

Politicians also recognize the importance of this particular strike. Robin Wilt, who is running against Republican State Senator Joe Robach in Monroe, was there Monday offering encouragement and thanking the workers for holding the line. “In times of economic uncertainty, it is important to stand by our workers and their families,” said Wilt. “Local job creation and retention is central to restoring our economy. Workers have a right to a living wage and fair labor standards.” Congressman Dan Maffei walked the picket line last weekend and Mayor Robert Duffy of Rochester was enthusiastically received by workers as he articulated his recognition of the gravity of this conflict. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand recently wrote to Young calling for the corporation to return to the bargaining table in good faith. http://rwdsu.info/files/Gillibrand%20letter.pdf )

CSEA Local 828 President Bess Watts also spoke with the strikers and reflects: “This is not simply about money. The wage cut is almost secondary to the huge cuts in benefits. One long time Mott’s employee told me it would cost $6000.00 out of pocket in medical expenses to have a baby.” Watts continued ”Everyone is struggling at the negotiation table right now and this strike has special significance to local unions because of the extreme undercutting of worker benefits and compensation by this large national corporation. If this strike fails, which union wants to be the next domino to fall? So this fight is our fight and we will support the courageous RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union) strikers. Backs to the wall, they speak for CSEA and all American workers when they say ‘Enough is enough’”.

Watts encourages union and other workers to support the Mott’s strikers by joining the picket line for a few hours to visibly show unity of purpose. And she urges all to join the boycott of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group products listed below:
7UP
A&W
Canada Dry,
Clamato,
Country Time
Crush
Deja Blue
Diet Rite
Dr Pepper
Hawaiian Punch
Hires
IBC
Margaritaville
Mott’s
Mr and Mrs T
Nantucket Nectars
Orangina
Penafiel
RC Cola
ReaLemon
Rose’s
Schweppes
Snapple
Squirt
Stewart’s
Sundrop
Sunkist
Vernors
Welch’s

Find them at Facebook under RWDSU local 220