(FREDONIA) - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 266/National Conference of Firemen and Oilers (NCFO) Announced Late This Week the Union Has Reached Agreement With ConAgra Foods After Two Days of Bargaining Over the Impact of the Scheduled Closing of the Company’s Local Carriage House Facilities by the End of This Year.

In What Can Only Be Described as a Major Economic Blow to the Local Community, ConAgra - One of the Most Profitable Food-Processing Corporations in All the United States - Announced in March That it Would Close its Carriage House Plants in Fredonia and Dunkirk by February 2015 and Move Them to a Non-Union Operation in Buckner, Kentucky.  The Northern Chautauqua County Plants Make Private-Label Condiments and Sauces, Including Salad Dressings and a Variety of Beverage Mixes and Syrups.  The Closings Will Negatively Impact 425 Local 266-Represented Workers Employed at the Two Food Processing Plants.

“We Still Strongly Believe the Closing of This Profitable Plant Was ‘Unwise, Unnecessary and Cold,’ But I’m Glad to Report We’ve Achieved Two of the Three Goals of Our Campaign for Dignity and Justice,” Local 266 President Tom Dickerson said. “There’s a Fair Severance Package for Our Members and Their Families and ConAgra Has Agreed to Allow the Sale of the Dunkirk and Fredonia Factories ‘Without’ Restrictions.”

Previously, the Company Had Insisted the Factories Could Not Be Purchased by Another Firm Going Into Food Production.  This Reversal - Along With a $50,000 New York State Grant From Governor Andrew Cuomo to Fund a Feasibility Study for Returning the Facilities to Productive Use - Makes it More Likely That Good Jobs Can Return to the Area Soon.

On Thursday, May 29th - Local Business and Community Leaders Joined With Union Members During a Rally Held in Fredonia Where ConAgra Foods Was Publicly Asked to Maintain a Portion of its Operations in Northern Chautauqua County and Provide its Employees Fair and Decent Severance Packages.  Union Officials Credited the Outpouring of Support From Local Business, Civic, Labor Religious and Political Leaders With Making the Difference.

Moreover, the Public Action Led to What Dickenson Described as a “Greatly Enhanced Severance Package.”   “I’ve Seen What (Companies) Gave After Other Plant Closings Were Announced and This One is ‘Much, Much Better’ and ‘Would Not’ Have Been Offered ‘Without’ the Campaign and the Rally,” Dickerson said.

Details of the Agreement Will Be Presented to Union-Represented Workers at ConAgra During a Series of Meetings That Will Be Held on June 6th and 7th.

On Another Note, Dickerson Took Time to Thank “Numerous People” Across the Dunkirk-Fredonia Community and Chautauqua County” For Their Involvement in the Campaign.  

“They Really ‘Came Together’ on This.  The Western New York Area Labor Federation, Headed by Richard Lipsitz - and Especially Whitney Yax, Who Pulled Everything Together for Us.  And the Help We Got From Other Unions and From Our Elected Officials Like Fredonia Mayor Steve Keefe, Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan, (U.S.) Congressman Tom Reed and Governor Andrew Cuomo Made a ‘Big Difference,’” Dickenson said.

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More Information on the ConAgra Situation in Northern Chautauqua County, Go to Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper’s Earlier Coverage: Unions Spearhead Major Fredonia Rally – Want ConAgra Foods To Maintain Portion Of Its Operations In Northern Chautauqua County Community & Provide Fair/Decent Severance Packages To Workers… In An Economic Blow To Dunkirk/Fredonia, ConAgra Foods - One of the Most Profitable Food-Processing Corporations In The United States - Recently Announced It Would Close Its Local Plants And Move Them To A Non-Union Kentucky Operation