STRIKING WORKERS REJECT BEMIS OFFER
August 14, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eric Sharfstein, Workers United, (917) 208-6980, eric.sharfstein@workersunitedunion.org
Terre Haute, Indiana - Earlier today, members of Local 1426 Workers United, an SEIU affiliate, striking the Bemis factory in Terre Haute, Indiana rejected a contract offer by their employer and voted to continue to strike.
The company, which manufactures flexible packaging, continued to insist on a temporary worker program that would reduce the number of permanent jobs in the factory.
"We want permanent jobs for employees this company hires," said striking Bemis worker Chris Scott. "That's what this community needs and that's what we are fighting for. This company continues to refuse to respect workers' rights."
On the issue of health care, the company insisted on continuing the use of invasive Health Risk Assessment testing on both workers and their spouses.
"Health care benefit improvements are critical for us," said striking Bemis worker Mark Sullivan. "We will not accept the company's attempts to invade our privacy and the privacy of our spouses. If this is not an example of why we need comprehensive health care reform in this country, I don't know what is."
Workers United, SEIU is a union of 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the textile, apparel, laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, manufacturing and distribution industries. www.workersunitedunion.org
Workers want change
Denise Graham
Front Desk, Doubletree Hotel, Pittsburgh
Working with SEIU will help protect the gains we've made with the Joint Board. We are happy with the partnership we've built in Pittsburgh. Our Joint Board leadership helped us negotiate a great contract. I want to work with SEIU to keep our union moving forward.
Barney Beck
Hyatt Regency Denver, CO. Rocky Mountain Joint Board
The disaffiliation of the Rocky Mountain Joint Board from UNITE HERE is 100% necessary to continue as a strong union. We need to fight for the Employee Free Choice Act, and that is something that Wilhelm is not willing to do.
While we need to be deliberate and cautious with a future SEIU affiliation, it is our strongest option.