The Stella D'oro workers will be the honoured guests of Rev. Billy at his event at the Highline Ballroom on Sunday, November 1st at 1PM. The workers will be "beatified," or sainted, in recognition of their inspiring labor struggle. The Highline Ballroon is at 431 West 16th Street between 9th & 10th Avenues.
On August 13, 2008, over 135 members of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50, employed at the historic Stella D'Oro plant in the Bronx, struck because of the unreasonable and unethical concessions demanded by the company at the bargaining table. Negotiators for Stella D'Oro, now owned by an out-of-state private equity firm, Brynwood Partners, among other things, want to (1) slash wages as much as 25%, hitting working women hardest, (2) make health insurance unaffordable by imposing crushing premiums, (3) eliminate holidays, vacation and sick pay, and (4) eliminate extra pay for working Saturdays and giving up family life.
Stella D'Oro management bargained in bad faith, refusing to even consider the union's proposals and compromises. BCTGM Local 50 has represented the workers at the Bronx plant since the early 1960's, and has helped build Stella D'Oro into an American icon. Brynwood Partners acquired the company in 2006. Never before Brynwood's ownership has the Local and its membership been attacked in this way.
