Rally with Stella D'oro Workers
Sunday, October 25th @ 11AM 15 Central Park West
In the midst of the current crisis which Goldman Sachs and its representatives helped create, this financial monster has received bailouts totaling $64 billion of tax-payer money. Now it announces multi-billion dollar profits and executive bonuses. Meanwhile, workers continue to lose jobs, benefits, and homes at alarming rates.
Lance, Inc., the junk-snack maker in which Goldman heavily invests -- and which therefore directly benefits from its huge bailout -- has purchased the Stella D'Oro Biscuit Co., laying off all 140 workers and moving production to a non-union facility in Ohio. They are also moving expensive Stella D'Oro machinery to Ohio -- machinery which was purchased with tax-payer subsidies!
So...Goldman and Lance get bailed out with our money and our communities and workers get screwed! We will not stand for it!
Please join the North West Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition (NWBCCC), the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance (KARA), and BCTGM Local 50, Stella D'Oro workers, and their supporters when we take this message directly to Goldman's CEO, Lloyd Blankfein, at his home on Central Park West.
Join us tomorrow to tell Goldman Sachs, Lance, Inc. and city officials to keep Stella D'oro in the Bronx and stop the bleeding of decent jobs out of New York City!
Goldman Sachs and Lance get bailed out - while the Bronx goes hungry!
WHAT: Rally to repudiate the anti-worker and anti-community practices of Goldman Sachs and Lance, Inc.
WHERE: 15 Central Park West in Manhattan (near 59th St.)
WHEN: Sunday October 25th @ 11am
Update: Buses will be leaving from the Bronx at 10AM. Meet at St. Nicholas of Tolentine at 2345 University Avenue on the corner of Fordham Road. There will be a special program after the rally at 3PM at the Church to outline demands related to the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory. Contact Laura Vazquez at 718-584-0515 or visit www.ourarmory.org for more information.
Our friend poet-activist Steve Bloom sent the following note and poem about Stella D'oro:
Here's a tribute to the strikers of Stella D'Oro that I wrote for, and read at, the twice-yearly "Poetry of Resistance" reading organized by the Activist Poets' Roundtable in NYC which was held last night. The theme of the evening was "Solidarity with workers and communities in struggle." The three strikers present as honored guests seemed to appreciate it. I'm hoping some of you might too.
Steve Bloom
"NLRB Still Broken: After Nearly 20 Year Battle, Workers Die Before $12 Million Settlement Reached," Huffington Post, 10/16/09
Even under President Obama, the gridlocked National Labor Relations Board is still broken in responding to anti-union abuses. A case in point: After nearly 20 years of a protracted legal battle, four construction unions finally reached a settlement with Flour Daniel, Inc. over its practice of discriminating against union organizers who apply for work. Flour Daniel will pay $12 million in back pay and interest, which will be allocated to 167 union members, who will receive between $8,000 and $217,000.
But in waiting for resolution of the case, some employees died before the settlement was reached. Read more.
"NLRB Still Broken: After Nearly 20-Year Battle, Workers Die Before Settlement Reached," In These Times, 10/16/09
Even under President Obama, the National Labor Relations Board is still broken in responding to anti-union abuses. A case in point: After nearly 20 years of a protracted legal battle, four construction unions have finally reached a settlement with Flour Daniel, Inc. over its practice of discriminating against union organizers who apply for work.
Flour Daniel will pay $12 million in back pay and interest, which will be allocated to 167 union members, who will receive between $8,000 and $217,000. Read more.
"Lance completes Stella D'oro buy," Charlotte Business Journal, 10/14/09
Lance Inc. reports the completion of the purchase of the Stella D’oro brand and manufacturing equipment and inventory from Stella D’oro Biscuit Co. Inc.
Terms of the purchase agreement were not disclosed.
Stella D’oro was established in 1932. Its products include biscotti, cookies, breakfast treats and breadsticks that are sold by grocers and mass merchants throughout the country. It is based in New York. Read more.
Emergency Protest Tomorrow!
Wednesday, October 14 @ 8:30AM
Stella D'oro Plant - 184 W. 237th Street
Keep Stella D'oro in the Bronx! Protest removal of machinery from the plant!
Tomorrow morning, Brynwood Partners, the union-busting former-owners of Stella D'oro, is sending trucks to the Bronx Stella D'oro plant to remove machinery in preparation for shipment to a non-union facility in Ohio. The workers at Stella D'oro have asked all supporters to join them in an emergency protest against the removal of the machinery.
To get to the plant, take the number 1 train on the 7th Avenue line to 238th Street and Broadway. The plant is one block south, on 237th Street and Broadway. The demonstration will begin at 8:30AM, but supporters are welcome throughout the morning. Thanks for your support!
"Rev. Billy, Local Pols Protest Stella D'oro Closing, Want Govt. to Act," The Village Voice, 10/11/09
The now-unemployed bakers of the septuagenarian cookie company Stella D'oro , various union representatives and cause sympathizers spewed vitriol at the private equity firm responsible for the factory's closure, politicians, and capitalism as they protested a day after operations came to a close at the Bronx plant.
Despite the venomous words for the system, a few in politics like Green party mayoral candidate Rev. Billy and two Bronx assemblymen joined the rally. In his white suit and satirical clerical collar, Rev. Billy chastised Brynwood Partners for the firm's imminent sale to Lance, Inc. "They're stripping the logo, stealing the equipment, taking it to Ohio where they don't have a union," he said. "It is union-busting pure and simple."Read more.
"Stella D'oro Shuts Down Bronx Plant," WNYC, 10/09/09
NEW YORK, NY October 09, 2009 —Stella D'oro, the nearly 80-year-old bakery plant, has baked its last cookie in the Bronx. When the second shift of employees reported to work yesterday afternoon they were told production had been shut down for good. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more. Listen here.
"Big batch of tears for bakery workers: Stella D'oro closes doors after 78 years," The New York Daily News, 10/09/09
The famous Bronx maker of Italian cookies and breadsticks closed its gates as the 3 p.m. shift walked out, leaving nearly 150 plant workers jobless.
"I'm very sad," said Mike Filippou, 45, a mechanic at the plant for 14 years. "After all these years, it's finally closing."
"Many people didn't believe it," said George Kahssay, 51, a floor manager. "Some had a little hope that it might continue, that they must be crazy to close it." Read more.
"A Bad Afternoon at Stella D'oro," Fire on the Mountain, 10/09/09
It was a rough afternoon.
At 2:00 PM yesterday, I was standing in front of City Hall in lower Manhattan, serving as an extra at a press conference for the Stella D’oro workers. After winning an arduous 11 month strike against concessions, the workers have been fighting plans by new owners Lance, Inc. to move the 78 year old bakery from the Bronx to Ashtabula, Ohio and reopen non-union.
The press conference/mini-rally had been a good one, though major media was thin on the ground, Speakers from the plant, a range of union officials and other supporters gave short sharp statements, demanding that Mayor Bloomberg do something to save Stella D’oro and its union jobs. As we were about to break up, two of the workers got hasty phone calls from the plant. Managers had told the morning shift that when they left at 3:00 PM, the bakery was shutting down! Read more.
