Teamsters to vote on Smucker contract

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.ohio.com/business/46976807.html

By Betty Lin-Fisher
Beacon Journal staff writer

POSTED: 06:38 p.m. EDT, Jun 04, 2009

There's some unusual tension between the union representing 440 workers at the J.M. Smucker Co. plant in Orrville and the food company.

Members of Teamsters Local 510 are working day to day at the company's headquarters after a contract expired May 5 and will vote on the company's final offer June 14. The union last month also filed three unfair labor practice charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

Kevin Wyler, secretary/treasurer of the union, said the union has had contracts expire before, but a contract is usually worked out with the company that owns such brands as Smucker's, Jif and most recently Folgers.

''We have enjoyed a good relationship with the J.M. Smucker company for a lot of years. This negotiation has just been much more difficult than normal,'' Wyler said.

The company is not asking for monetary concessions from the union, but changes in contract language, he said. He declined to go into more detail.

Smucker spokeswoman Maribeth Badertscher said out of respect for the company's employees and negotiations process, the company preferred to discuss contractual issues directly with its employees.

Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at
330-996-3724 or blinfisher@
thebeaconjournal.com.


FULL story at link.

[rurallib]

1. Is Secretary Solis planning on clearing up all the complaints

left over from Bushco? Is that one of their focuses? I know she is working hard for EFCA.

[Omaha Steve]

2. The Dept. has a much larger budget

I'd say your right.

OS