"‘Death of 1,000 cuts’: Kellogg’s workers on why they’re striking", 7 October 2021

About 1,400 Kellogg’s workers at four US plants have gone on strike after their current union contracts expired and amid accusations that the cereal giant is offshoring jobs.

The workers, represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM), produce cereals for brands...at plants in Michigan, Tennessee, Nebraska and Pennsylvania.

Trevor Bidelman, president of BCTGM Local3G and a fourth-generation employee at the Kellogg’s plant in Battle Creek, Michigan, explained workers are on strike against a proposed two-tier system for current and new employees proposed by Kellogg’s. Bidelman said Kellogg’s wants to not offer pensions to new employees, remove cost of living provisions, and make changes in holiday pay and vacations...

Shortly before the strike, Kellogg’s announced plans to cut 212 jobs at the Battle Creek, Michigan, plant over the next two years, including 174 positions represented by the union....Kellogg’s cited plans to streamline efforts and relocate cereal production to other facilities in North America as reasons for the job cuts...

The union took issue with Kellogg’s threatening to outsource jobs from the US to Mexico if workers refuse to accept their proposals...

In 2018, 187 workers were laid off at the Battle Creek plant, with work being shifted to Canada and other US plants. About two years earlier, over 30 workers were laid off from the plant, with work outsourced to India...

From October 2013 to November 2014, Kellogg’s locked out about 220 workers from their Memphis, Tennessee, plant while trying to reclassify some workers as “casual” workers to reduce wages and benefits.

The National Labor Relations Board ultimately ruled the lockout was illegal and ordered the locked-out employees to be reinstated with compensation for the wages and benefits they lost as a result of the lockout, but in 2016 a federal appeals court overturned that ruling...

A spokesperson for Kellogg’s said in a statement: “We are disappointed by the union’s decision to strike. Kellogg provides compensation and benefits for our US RTEC employees that are among the industry’s best. Our offer includes increases to pay and benefits for our employees, while helping us meet the challenges of the changing cereal business.”