Strike at Frito-Lay ends as union members ratify contract

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Union members at the Frito-Lay plant in Topeka have approved a new contract and will return to work Monday, ending a nearly three-week strike at the plant, union officials said.

Members of Local 218 of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers union approved the contract Friday. It gives all union members a 4% pay raise over two years and guarantees workers at least one day off each week, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

More than 500 of the 850 employees represented by the union went on strike on July 5, complaining of a toxic work environment, forced overtime and a lack of pay raises.

Workers said the shifts were caused by a severe staffing shortage at the plant.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/business-strikes-d6b0350973254fdfe8fbbdb29bc7a1b2

[COL Mustard]

1. Stay Salty, My Friends

Glad they worked that deal out, but I still try not to shop on the orange aisle in the supermarket. That stuff is my Kryptonite.

[a kennedy]

2. Hooray.......👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

[appalachiablue]

3. Terrific news, TY!

[BumRushDaShow]

4. "guarantees workers at least one day off each week"

This is a shame that "at least one day off each week" had to specifically put into a contract, but I am glad they were able to do that.

I had read the earlier articles on their strike and the nightmare at that particular plant. And what the management doesn't seem to get is that if you have that kind of toxic work environment where no one wants to work there, then you pile it on whoever is still there where they have to work 7 days a week to crank out product, then it makes things infinitely worse, and you will now sacrifice what little quality you had, for bean-counting quantity.

It's one of those typical vulture business practices where they will cut and cut and cut until something bleeds, and then pull back a notch.

[Shrike47]

5. In my opinion, the workers got screwed.

[gilligan]

6. Right on the money

[bluboid]

11. yup. sadly! american unions need to wake up & kick ass. that's what will really shake things up.

[MichMan]

14. Well, they were the ones who voted for it and have to live by it.

I don't work there, so it really isn't any of my concern

[WhiskeyGrinder]

16. Yep, this is not a great outcome.

[TexasTowelie]

7. I guess that means I can start drinking Pepsi products again. nt

[UGADawg]

8. Not much of a win???????

4%. 6 days a week?

We need stronger labor laws. Time and a half for ALL work over 40 hours. All means all no matter their hourly wage or Management status.

[MichMan]

15. What makes you think they weren't getting time and a half?

It was having to work it at all that was the issue with them.

I disagree that a CEO, Lawyer, Politician, or Doctor should receive time and a half for all hours over 40.

[Midnight Writer]

9. Foolish of Frito-Lay to tarnish their brand for such small potatoes.

4% over two years is less than inflation. And how much of a burden is it on a multi-billion dollar corporation to hire some staff?

Meanwhile, I will never look at their products in the same way.

Once a customer sees behind the curtain, it can't be unseen.

Incompetent management.

[ampm]

13. 100%

Your right it's really bad and they got screwed by there union

[Skittles]

10. that's great

because I did skip the Frito Lay products my last couple of grocery trips....I do like my crunchy junk food

[ampm]

12. Wow

They didn't win 4% over 2 years and 1 day off great! Get rid of that union someone is being bought

[twodogsbarking]

17. They need employees to put air in the bags.

Where's the chips?

[The Jungle 1]

18. Unions are again fighting for a 40 hour work week.

Thanks Reagan. What he did to this country and the middle class is stunning.

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. I wonder what they were getting paid to begin with

I had no idea Topeka was so small - less than 150K residents, only 250K in the whole county. I guess that's the reason there's a shortage of workers.