To: All BMRF/B&P Employees
This employee information bulletin is responsive to what we believe is misinformation regarding the Company’s offer and rumored counter proposals.
The Company’s offer, as detailed in our May 14 Employee Information Bulletin, remains on the table. The Company has not amended this offer. While the Company cannot force the Union to bring this offer to a vote, we remain optimistic that our employees will ratify this offer if given the opportunity to vote while it is still on the table.
The Company has not made a formal counter to any Union proposals since the initiation of the lockout, as the Union’s proposals have not come close to meeting the Company’s bargaining objectives. Despite this fact, we have repeatedly heard rumors which suggest the Company has in some way countered the Union’s proposal to combine the Warehouse Operator and Package Operator classifications. This is not true.
Combining the Warehouse and Package Operator job classification as the Union proposed would significantly increase the Blending & Packaging Plant’s cost structure. We have repeatedly communicated this to Union leadership in our rejections of the Union’s proposal; however, the Local has continued to pursue this item. As such, the Company and the Union discussed the changes to the Blending & Packaging Plant’s pay progressions which would be necessary in order to make this proposal close to cost neutral; however, the Company did not provide a counter.
The Company and the Union met for the 44th time yesterday. At this time, the Company’s current offer remains available for a vote by the membership. As always, we will keep you updated on any future developments.