http://themilitant.com/2017/8121/812132.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 81/No. 21 May 29, 2017
—ON THE PICKET LINE—
Militant/Sara Lobman
Teamsters Local 812 members on strike against Clare Rose beer
distributor picket May 6 in Melville, New York, against company demands
for wage cuts, end to funding union pensions.
NY Teamsters strike beer distributor over wages, pensions
MELVILLE, N.Y. — Some 130 drivers and warehouse workers struck the Clare
Rose beer distribution company on Long Island April 23 against boss
plans to end pension fund payments and cut wages. The workers are
members of Teamsters Local 812, which organizes more than 3,500 beverage
workers around the New York area.
The company has frozen the pension plan and intends to replace it with a
401(k) defined contribution system. These require deductions from
workers’ paychecks and leave retirees insecure.
The pay cut is aimed at the drivers. Patrick Waryold, who has driven for
the company for 14 years, explained that the drivers are paid strictly
on commission, as well as getting bonuses from the beer companies.
“It’s hard work, sometimes 10 to 12 hours a day, but we make out pretty
well,” he said. “We’re not asking for more pay. We just want to keep
what we have.”
Now the company plans to hire a separate sales staff, so drivers would
be paid by the day with a small commission. The union calculates this
would cut take home pay by 30 percent.
The company is attempting to fill beer orders with management and the
strikebreaking Strom Engineering Corp.
The Teamsters are picketing distribution centers here and in East
Yaphank 24 hours a day. They’ve been receiving support and publicity for
their strike from the local and national Teamsters union, as well as
other unions.
On May 6 they got support on the picket line from Teamsters Local 210
members from the Sims Municipal Recycling plant in the Sunset Park
neighborhood in Brooklyn, Teamster members from a warehouse in the Bronx
and workers at area Coke and Pepsi processing plants.
— Candace Wagner
Rail workers in UK rally to oppose cuts in train crews
LONDON — Some 200 members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union and
supporters rallied outside Parliament April 26 to mark the first
anniversary of the start of a series of strike actions against Southern
Rail. The company, with government backing, is seeking to remove guards
(conductors) from trains and impose driver-only-operation on passenger
trains.
Rail, Maritime and Transport members have participated in 31 work
stoppages over this year. Rail workers employed by Northern Rail and
Merseyrail, facing similar moves by the bosses, have also taken action.
— Jonathan Silberman
KFC workers strike and rally in New Zealand
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Some 100 workers and supporters rallied here
April 22 outside the Balmoral branch of the Kentucky Fried Chicken
fast-food chain. The action was part of a two-hour nationwide strike by
Unite Union members at KFC that saw similar rallies in five other cities.
“We are fighting for a living wage,” Swastika Nair told the Militant.
She was one of four workers at the St Lukes branch of KFC who shut the
restaurant and joined the rally. “We put a handwritten note on the door
saying, ‘Store is temporarily closed due to industrial action,’” said
Nair, who is a union delegate (shop steward) at the store.
Placards said, “Overworked and underpaid” and “On strike!” And chants
rang out, “Never cross a picket line!” Cars and trucks honked support as
they drove past the inner city intersection.
Most of the predominantly young workforce at KFC is on the minimum wage
of 15.75 New Zealand dollars per hour (US$10.90). The Unite Union is
asking for 10 cents an hour wage increase over each of the next three
years.
KFC in New Zealand is owned by Restaurant Brands, which also owns Carl’s
Jr., Starbucks and Pizza Hut. Workers there also struck and joined the
rallies. It was the first strike at Restaurant Brands in New Zealand
since 2006. The Unite Union is trying to get the company to reopen
negotiations on the union contract after talks broke down. About half of
the company’s 4,000 workers are union members.
— Mike Tucker
Related articles:
Victory! Firings during strike at Momentive reversed!
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