January 3, 2012
To: SPEEA Council Members
From: SPEEA Legislative &
Public Affairs Committee
Subject: PRE-SUBMITTED NEW BUSINESS: Support of locked-out Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) workers and the national corporate campaign
against American Crystal Sugar
Background
1,300 Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers
and Grain Millers (BCTGM) workers at American Crystal Sugar facilities in
Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa have been locked out of their jobs since
August 1st. The company is
attempting to extract concessions from union workers that would allow
outsourcing of jobs, uncertainty in health care costs, and elimination of
seniority to name a few.
Despite repeated attempts by the union to end
the lockout and resume negotiations, American Crystal Sugar remains unmoved in
its demands. The company has brought in Minnetonka, MN-based Strom Engineering
for replacement workers and other consulting services.
If American Crystal Sugar prevails, it is
likely that many more companies will use this lockout tactic in future labor
negotiations. This is an opportunity to make a stand against these tactics.
That's why the Minnesota, North Dakota and Iowa AFL-CIO, in conjunction with the
BCTGM, are launching a full-scale, national corporate campaign against American
Crystal Sugar. The campaign includes the hiring of full-time staff for
organizing, mobilization, and research, along with an aggressive
paid media campaign.
The goal of the campaign is to leverage
public pressure on American Crystal executives and the nearly 3,000 beet
growers who own the company to bring about a successful end to the
lockout. However, a campaign of this
magnitude takes resources. It is estimated that an effective 30-day campaign
will cost more than $160,000. Approximately one half of the funds necessary to
fully activate the corporate campaign have been raised. Any financial support
that we can provide to this campaign would be appreciated and well-invested.
There is a lot riding on the outcome of the
lockout. If workers prevail in this dispute, it will show other companies that
a lockout is an ineffective tactic. To learn more about this Sugar Beet
Ambassador program, contact Jessie McGregor at jmcgregor@aflcio.org or call
651-665-9196.
SPEEA L&PA
Committee Recommendation
The
SPEEA Legislative and Public Affairs Committee recommends
passage of this motion.
MOTION
It is moved that: the
SPEEA Council demonstrate its support for the
locked-out Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers at American
Crystal Sugar with a contribution of $3,000.00 to the Minnesota AFL-CIO BCTGM Action Fund. The contribution shall be made to the Minnesota
AFL-CIO, 175 Aurora Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103.
Pros
Cons