PECATONICA — Bay Valley Foods' workers entered their ninth week on strike Monday having never left the picket line even during the recent subzero temperatures.
They're set to return to the bargaining table Wednesday.
“They’re not going to cave,” said Pat Slowey, the Teamsters Local 754 business agent. “They’re solid. They know what they’re out here for. They’re here to protect their families and their futures.”
A federal mediator is expected to watch over negotiations Wednesday in Elgin. Both sides continue to differ over matters that include health care costs, pension funding and job projection.
In November, the employees clocked out early during their shift and began to picket outside the building.
Corporate officials did not return calls for comment. Yet the company said in a Jan. 5 letter to employees that they only will negotiate at the bargaining table. So far, both parties only have been able to meet a few times.
“In summary, the parties have only met twice since before Thanksgiving and the company specifically criticized the union about the union’s limited availability,” wrote Dan Dring, TreeHouse’s vice president of labor and employee relations, in communications to employees. TreeHouse Foods Inc. is Bay Valley Foods' parent company.
“Lastly, in regards to the negotiations, the Company has told your union at the bargaining table that the Company is willing to offer wage increases to everyone at the plant. While it desires an end to the strike …, the Company will continue to operate the plant during the strike and, as it has repeatedly told your union, will not agree to any new contract without the management rights providing it with the flexibility to operate more efficiently.”
Workers are picketing 24-7. Their shifts were reduced from eight hours to four hours after the sub-zero temperatures arrived.
They continued to walk the line along Third Street, at both the Division Street and John Street intersections, while occasionally seeking shelter in a warming house filled with snacks and treats from friends, relatives and community members.
Their signs Monday read “Stop Corporate Greed” and “TreeHouse Unfair to Labor.”
“We survived,” said Chris Banks, who has worked at Bay Valley Foods for about 20 years. “Nobody wants to be out here on strike. We’d all rather be working. It’s a bad situation.”
Chuck Murdoch, also a Teamsters official, wrote a letter to his fellow Teamsters.
“Dring is basically begging you to go back to work,” he wrote. “Don’t fall for it! The company is losing millions, and we hope, eventually, someone is going to say enough is enough. He tries to blame the union for not reaching an agreement on a contract at this time by insisting on gutting your rights and breaking your union.”
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Susan Vela: 815-987-1392; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela