Generations of New Yorkers grew up with and loved Stella D'Oro cookies, once an iconic, national, premium Italian-style biscuit brand.
When Brynwood Partners in 2006 took over the Stella D'Oro factory in the Bronx, the Wall Street private equity firm had every reason to believe it would be easy to slash the wages, pensions, holidays and sick pay of the 136 bakery workers.
But they forgot one important fact: The workers are represented by a union, BCTGM Local 50. And throughout their more than nine-month strike, the workers have been strongly supported by their union brothers and sisters and by members of the community as they walk the picket line every day outside the plant where Brynwood now employs strikebreakers.
The saga of Stella is part of an all-too-familiar story of what has become of our American Dream--a Dream deflated, busted and broken by unfettered corporate greed. Originally a family-owned firm, Stella was acquired by RJR Nabisco, then taken over by Kraft when RJR Nabisco broke up. Stella was run into the ground by its corporate overseers, then dumped to private equity in 2006 when Kraft, under pressure from Wall Street, began to dispose of "non-core" assets.
The wealthy speculators at Brynwood are looking to make huge profits by slashing wages and benefits. Middle-income working Americans are to be plunged into poverty so the predators who brought our economy to its knees can make another killing.
Vicky is one of those working Americans in the predators cross hairs. She has 28 years on the job baking Stella D'Oro cookies. She began work at Stella D'oro at age 20. In August, she decided she had to take a stand. Now she has no paycheck coming in, nor any health benefits. Still, Vicky and her co-workers walk the strike lines at West 237th and Broadway every day, defying the financial chieftains who, after the union contract expired July 31, 2008, demanded reduced wages, fewer paid holidays and an additional $1.32 on average per hour per worker to maintain health insurance coverage.
Local 50 members have been joined on the picket lines by nurses, staff at the City University of New York, textile workers and many others. The New York State Teachers Union recently presented the workers with $2,500 for their strike fund.
The workers have taken their struggle to the luxurious offices of Brynwood Partners in Greenwich, Conn., and to the home of Brynwood Partners and Stella D’oro Chairman Hendrik Hartong III, son of Henk Hartong Jr., former Pittston coal CEO and Brynwood founder. The struggle continues and the strikers need you help.
If you're in New York, stop by the picket lines. Or you can take action to support the striking workers by sending an e-mail to Henk Hartong and Brynwood Partners at huppsv@brynwoodpartners.com or info@brynwoodpartners.com. Tell them to go back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair agreement to preserve the living standards of their loyal employees.
Tell-a-Friend!