FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 8, 2019
Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259
GENERAL MILLS STRIKE NARROWLY AVOIDED FOR NOW
(CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA) – Tonight, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union’s (RWDSU) Local 110, announced that productive negotiations have resumed for workers at General Mills’ production facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The company and the worker-led negotiations committee met on Thursday after 99% workers voted down the “last, best and final” contract offer from General Mills. Conversation will continue into Friday in an effort to avoid a strike slated for next week. The union is citing productive conversations and movement on the contract with the company as a reason to keep workers at the facility for now.
“Tonight we can report that productive conversations have resumed at General Mills and that together we have avoided a potential strike at this time. We formed this union earlier this year to stop the bleed out of long held necessary benefits. After our initial conversations with General Mills, in the wake of voting down the bad contract this week, we are confident we have movement on our top four issues with the contract and that real negotiations can resume. We look forward to rebuilding a productive relationship with the company and hope to report a strong contract soon,” said Roger Grobstich, Vice President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU).
The RWDSU represents approximately 520 workers at the General Mills manufacturing facility in contract negotiations. The workers in the bargaining unit handle production, sanitation and maintenance at the facility. The facility produces iconic brands such as; the original Cheerios and other flavor varieties including Honey Nut, Frosted and Multi-Grain, and Lucky Charms cereal, as well as fruit snacks including Gushers, Fruit Roll Ups, and Fruit by the Foot, and Betty Crocker ready to spread frosting. General Mills’ workers are members of Local 110 of the RWDSU, which also represents workers across town at the Quaker Oats facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and at Coles Quality Foods in North Liberty, Iowa.