Kellogg's workers win a contract
Episode 53 with Maximillian Alvarez
Maximillian Alvarez is editor-in-chief at The Real News and host of the podcast Working People. His writing appears everywhere from the Baffler to Dissent, Boston Review, and the Nation, and this week he’ll be joining us to discuss the new contract Kellogg’s workers just won, his own political journey in independent media, and much more.
After eleven weeks of striking, Kellogg’s workers have ratified a contract. A statement from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) clarifies the union’s wins:
• No take aways; No concessions
• No permanent two-tier system
• A clear path to regular full-time employment
• Plant closing moratorium: No plant shut downs through October 2026
• A significant increase in the pension multiplier
• Maintenance of cost of living raises
Notably, workers rejecting tiered pay systems has been a common theme this year. It was a prominent part of the strike at John Deere, which ended in late November. At Kellogg’s, the two-tier system received pushback from workers because it instituted a lower pay scale for workers hired after 2015. Senior workers stood alongside their more recently hired coworkers, however, and the tiered system will end with the implementation of the new contract. Alongside a newly unionized Starbucks location, the union victory at Kellogg’s is the latest in big developments for the labor movement — and we’re excited to get Maximillian’s perspective on this week’s episode of KK&F.
Paying subscribers can join us Friday evening on Substack for video of the conversation. The audio will be available as a podcast to everyone on Saturday night through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and more.
Thanks so much for giving people some hope in these hard times. Nothing but love and admiration for you both. Hope the holidays are great and hope your leg feels better Kyle. You gonna Rematch golfing or basketball?
QUESTION - Is there such a thing as a Union Leaders Summit?