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
Jeffrey Lyon
LSG Sky Chefs, Salt Lake City, Rocky Mountain Joint Board
This vote that we cast today is very important for the future. It is time to take action to better ourselves. We took a stand and voted to disaffiliate from UNITE HERE and work towards the process of making our union stronger by becoming members of SEIU. They will listen to us and what we want, not what our companies want.
Donald Myers
Operator, Bemis Inc. Exec Board Member NYNJ Joint Board
I feel great! I want to thank everyone working nationwide to make this new union happen. We will be stronger and continue to fight for the rights of workers.
¡Me siento bien! Quiero darle las gracias a todos los que están trabajando a nivel nacional para crear esta nueva unión. Seremos mas fuertes y seguiremos luchando para los derechos de el trabajador.