National Kellogg Co. officials called union leaders to the negotiation table Monday morning as the strike in Memphis entered its 20th day.
Company officials said they want to meet union leaders in Indianapolis this week and are willing to “consider any proposals.” Ken Hurley, Kellogg’s head of labor relations, said so in an email Monday to the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers’ International Union (BCTGM) negotiating committee.
Here’s the message in full:
“In (another) [parentheses are the company’s] effort to resume negotiations, the company proposes that the parties meet this week in Indianapolis, at a location TBD.
“As we have stated from the beginning, the company is willing to consider any proposals from the union including proposals that would preserve a pathway for transitionals to legacy wages and benefits.
“At the end of the day, we have a responsibility to these employees, which is to engage in good-faith bargaining toward a replacement agreement that gets them back to work.
“We are hoping the union is willing to resume negotiations,” said Hurley.
The company said the invitation to bargain is the second since October 4th but the union had not yet responded.
According to Kellogg’s negotiation website, the union “appears” to be unwilling to negotiate unless the company agrees to provide free healthcare and pension benefits to employees who do not now receive them.
“The union agreed in 2015 to a more current, market-based health and retirement plan,” reads a Kellogg statement from early October. “Now they want to go back on that deal. We have no such pre-conditions to returning to the negotiations table and remain ready, willing, and able to meet.”
The strike equates to “war,” according to a post made Sunday by Kevin Nino Bradshaw on the local BCTGM Kellogg Facebook page.
“Think about all the time, dedication and loyalty, we have given Kellogg’s,” he wrote. “You think about all the money they [are] spending to try break us, but can’t agree to equal pay and benefits, but want to take away from our family and loved ones. … if you … think this is not war then you need to wake up! Come too far to turn around all we can do now is turn the pressure up!”
