Bakery Workers Welcome Support of Student Works at Penn State in their Global Campaign Against Mondelēz /Nabisco's Exploitation of its Workforce

KENSINGTON, Md., March 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), which represents nearly 4,000 members at Mondelēz International, maker of Nabisco snack products, today announced that it has received support from Student Works at Penn State (SWAPS), an official Penn State organization that works to bring together students with local and statewide unions and their members. SWAPS recently sent a letter to the Office of Procurement at Penn State urging them to boycott Mexican-made Nabisco products for purchase and resale on Penn State's campus.

David Durkee, BCTGM's International President, commented, "Our boycott initiatives on colleges and universities have been received with passion and enthusiasm, as these forums are brimming with both loyal Nabisco customers and passionate student activists who are eager to make a positive impact in the world. Student Works' principled letter to Penn State's Administration is a true testament to what our college campaign is about, and we hope the university's leadership upholds its commitment to 'promote the general welfare of the citizenry,' and agrees to stop the purchase and resale of Mexican-made Nabisco products. This Mondelēz/Nabisco business model is designed to seek out areas of the world where work is transferred from higher-wage economies to lower-wage economies, like Salinas, Mexico, where workers are not adequately protected or compensated for the production of their products; a business model that deprives workers in the U.S. of quality employment and offers those across borders and oceans all but industrial servitude in that transferred work. Consumers can and will dictate appropriate corporate policies and ethical standards in the future through the power of their purchase choices. We applaud these student activists and welcome their support."

On February 6, BCTGM held a teach-in at Penn State as part of their "Check the Label" campaign, which expanded to college campuses in November. The campaign aims to educate American consumers about the merits of rejecting Mexican-made Nabisco products to end the corporate race to the bottom that treats workers in America and in Mexico with disrespect and without regard to the financial well-being of their families and their communities. These business models are designed to only reward the CEO with increased compensation.

The National contract between Nabisco's parent company, Mondelēz International and over 2,000 of its 4,000 workers represented by the BCTGM, expired on February 29, 2016. BCTGM continues to be resolute in its commitment to securing a quality contract for its members – one that is in the very best interests of all members and their families today and into the future.

For more information about the boycott, please visit www.fightforamericanjobs.org and for more about the BCTGM, visit www.BCTGM.org.

Contacts:
Ron Baker, BCTGM Strategic Campaign Coordinator 
(703) 508-2637
[email protected]

Jonathan Morgan or Alex Hinson, Perry Street Communications
(214) 965-9955
[email protected] 
[email protected]

SOURCE Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union

Related Links

http://www.BCTGM.org