Solidarity with Stella D’oro workers

Workers of Stella D’oro, who have been on strike for seven months, were joined on March 11 by community activists and allies in a protest in front of the company’s plant in the Bronx, N.Y. The protest militantly faced off against scabs who crossed the picket line to go into the factory.

The cookie and biscuit company has refused to sit down and negotiate with the 135 mostly women workers, who are members of the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union. Just days after the March 11 rally, the National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of unfair labor practice charges that were filed by the union against the company.

According to an e-mail sent by the Stella D’oro workers support committee, the company is seeking to slash wages by 25 percent; raise premiums on health insurance; eliminate holidays, vacation, sick pay and pensions; and eliminate extra pay for working on Saturdays. Workers are asking supporters to boycott all Stella D’oro products.