Posted January 28, 2009
A couple of dozen striking Stella D’Oro workers and their allies braved the freezing rain to rally in front of Fairway supermarket on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Wednesday Jan. 28th. The event was covered by NY1 and 1010 WINS.
The strike support committee –which consists of community members, clergy and supporters from other unions — has asked Fairway and other stores that carry the cookies, like Duane Reade drug store, to remove Stella D’Oro products from their shelves.
The workers, who are resisting efforts by new owners Brynwood Partners to slash wages by 25%, are in their sixth month of striking. A recent positive NLRB ruling has found that the strike qualifies as an unfair labor practices strike, meaning that management must consider the strikers the permanent workers. Currently Brynwood Partners is operating the factory and refusing to negotiate with strikers.
The uptick in action will continue tomorrow, Thursday Jan. 29, with a press conference held at City Hall at 11am with Council Member Tony Avella. A march on Saturday Jan. 31st will begin at 237th Street & Broadway at 11am and continue with a rally at the Target shopping center on 225th Street.
Victorious workers from the Chicago Republic sit down strike will attend in solidarity. The UFT, PSC, CLC and other unions are working in support of Stella D’Oro workers, who are members of BCTGM Local 50.
(The Chicago workers will speak at a separate event at 3pm at Judson Memorial church, 55 Washington Square South, on Sat. Jan. 31.)
Comments
One response to “Stella D’Oro Strike Picks Up Steam”
Great update! Folks in NYC who want to get more involved — come to the strike support meeting tonight at the Church of the Redeemer on 231st Street, just west of Broadway. And thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday! We had several hundred folks there; it meant a ton to the strikers!