Nabisco Unilaterally Imposes Contract, Axing Pensions

PORTLAND, Ore.—The Mondelēz International corporation announced May 23 that it would end pensions for about 2,000 workers at Nabisco bakeries, unilaterally implementing parts of a contract offer their union had rejected.  The company, which has not negotiated with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers union since their last contract expired two years ago, had told workers in April that it would give them raises and a $15,000 bonus if they agreed by May 20 to take the health-benefit cuts and switch to a 401(k) retirement plan. The BCTGM refused to hold a vote on that proposal; Local 364 Vice President Leo Lovato told NWLaborPress that he’d seen workers at the Portland bakery rip up the letters from the company and throw them in the garbage. The imposed contract will give workers raises of 2.25% a year retroactive to March 2016, but end the company’s contributions to the union’s pension plan. It does not, however, include Mondelēz’s plan to charge health-care premiums of $28 to $68 a month and double deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. “It’s another cutesy move by the company,” said Ron Baker, BCTGM international strategic campaign coordinator. “We’re certainly not done with them.” Read more