In Williamson, New York – located 20 minutes from Rochester – Union-Represented workers at the Dr. Pepper/Snapple-owned Mott’s plant have been walking a picket line outside the juice and applesauce manufacturing facility since 300 RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers)/UFCW (United Food & Commercial Workers) Local 220 employees began an Unfair Labor Practice strike on May 23rd. 

But this initially-reported local disagreement between Labor and management over a new contract has snowballed over the course of time into something much larger, and quite frankly - much more important.

As the days move on, this strike has taken on a higher degree of importance - and not just in this Wayne County Town.  It’s grown to become the poster child for Corporate Greed across the United States and has now evolved into a battle that cannot be lost by Organized Labor.

As the strike entered its 12^th week last week, WNYLaborToday.com traveled with its Labor News Video Crew to the Mott’s plant in order to sit down and talk to those workers who said they could not agree to take a $1.50-an-hour pay cut, in addition to reductions in their Health Care coverage and retirement packages. 

But what we discovered was something more than just a bunch of rural workers who turn apples into applesauce and juice and who want to maintain their normal lifestyles and provide for themselves and their families, while Dr. Pepper/Snapple/Mott’s – which enjoyed a profit of $555 million last year – instead opts to make itself look good by agreeing to foot the bill on half the cost of any ticket purchased by local residents attending the Wayne County Fair on Mott’s Day.

Those workers WNYLaborToday.com spoke with were not only articulate about what they face, but were also steadfast in their belief of what they are doing is right.

RWDSU Local 220 Recording Secretary Bruce Beal told WNYLaborToday.com: “This has gone globally and gotten to point where we need to stick strong to what we’ve come out here to do, because we have put our footprint in the sand against Corporate Greed for blue-collar workers from the North to the South and into the East and the West.  And we need to convey our message and make everyone believe that whether they are Union or non-Union, the importance of fighting Corporate Greed.”

Kevin Petty - an RWDSU Member at Mott’s for 14 years, who works in production – offered: “Actually I’m surprised because it’s gotten so big.  I never really expected it.  Basically we’ve become the ‘poster child’ (of what Corporate America is doing to its workers).  But now that we’re doing that, we’re okay with that.  Someone has to drive the fight and we’re doing it.”

After speaking with them, one can easily begin to grasp the fact that the Mott’s strike is not only emblematic of the problems facing workers employed within what is left of the U.S. manufacturing industry – but the way some company owners are choosing to treat their workers. 

In the case of the Mott’s strike, it also shows the total and growing disregard that management has for those who – quite frankly – have allowed them to make the kind of obscene profits they enjoy.

But this strike, what could be considered small by many in the beginning, is big – extremely big. 

And – it’s one that’s apparent that all of Organized Labor must come together and focus in on, as well as support and eventually win. 

Nothing but a fair and equitable agreement can be acceptable if the Labor Movement – across this country – is to show Americans that it is the group that really does stand up for Working People and is the one organization that can make a real change for any American that wants nothing more than to be treated and compensated fairly by any employer that has lost their way and outweighs profit over worker and human decency.

I briefly had the opportunity to speak with one woman, a Mott’s worker whom we did not get an opportunity to interview on-camera.  As we talked, her eyes began to well up as she spoke about her job and how hard it was to be out on strike. 

But what she told me was not rooted in defying an employer who was looking to reduce her hourly wages or her Health Care benefits or even her retirement fund. 

You could see this job action she was involved in was not one that was taken just to stick it back to her employer.

This was about a job that she truly enjoyed working, work that enabled her to pay her bills and provide for her family and the pride that she said she took in doing her job. 

You see this was about dignity, about being treated with respect and wanting to be truly appreciated for the job she performed inside that Town of Williamson plant.

And that’s exactly why this strike, I believe, has to become so important to the National Labor Movement.

If Dr. Pepper/Snapple/Mott’s is allowed to do this to a small group of workers in Williamsville, New York - then it sends a wrong message to any employer who would like to do the same to their workers in any other part of this country. 

Sadly, it could open the flood gates even more and give them a green light to follow suit. 

That cannot be allowed to happen.

The message should be clear and strong:

You treat Mott’s workers this way and it’s just not those workers you’re hurting – You’re hurting all workers – Union and non-Union – across this country.

So let the Mott’s Workers in Williamson know you that you support them, that you’ll tell Dr. Pepper/Snapple they won’t be allowed to do what they’re doing to their workforce and that you won’t purchase Dr. Pepper/Snapple/Motts’s products until they do the right thing: get back to the negotiating table and hammer out a fair and equitable contract that works for both sides.

Talking to those workers in Williamson and reading reports that are now coming in from across the county – I am confident the Labor Movement will not allow that to happen.

For there is no one else lining up behind Labor to fight this fight.

And without Organized Labor, I ask you – Who will?