Striking Kellogg Employees Rally After Union and Company Reach Tentative Agreement

Striking Kellogg employees and their families rallied in Battle Creek on Friday as the union for the food giant have a new tentative agreement.

1,400 members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union will vote Sunday and Monday on the new offer.

Workers in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Tennessee walked off the job on October 5. The new agreement, if ratified, would increase starting wages and benefits.

Donivan Williams is a process operator with Kellogg… and a member of BCTGM Local 3-G. He says the strike is about taking a stand for everyone.

 “We can’t be silent not at a time like this it takes integrity for people with very little on the line to risk it all by leading their families out on the streets,” said Williams.

Vermont Senator – and union advocate – Bernie Sanders was at the rally. He called out Kellogg’s high pay for executives and billion-dollar profits for the company.

 “What we are seeing is massive levels of income and wealth inequality,” said Sanders, speaking to the crowd.

The Senator said the sacrifice made during strikes lifts all workers

“Working people are looking at you and they’re saying thank you for your courage,” he said.

Rank-and-file members voted down a previous agreement with Kellogg last week. Workers are unhappy with a two-tiered system that would deny new hires similar retirement and health benefits. Kellogg threatened to hire new workers when the deal fell through, leading to public outcry.