Interfaith Worker Justice Publishes Report on Impact of Mondelēz International's Outsourcing of Manufacturing Jobs

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Interfaith Worker Justice ("IWJ"), the largest faith-based organization in the United States focused on worker issues, today released a report and accompanying research detailing the profoundly injurious economic and social consequences of Mondelēz/Nabisco's decision to outsource hundreds of well-paying jobs to a new production plant in Salinas, Mexico. The report follows a months-long, multi-city campaign to expose how such outsourcing has adversely impacted hundreds of workers from The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union ("BCTGM"), as well as their communities.

BCTGM President David Durkee said, "The IWJ report is a powerful commentary on the many ways in which Mondelēz/Nabisco's corrosive business model exploits workers and their communities across borders.  With Mondelēz's new leadership at the top, we trust this report will prompt a serious reassessment of the company's self-professed commitment to, '[make] a positive change in the world – for people, communities and the environment.'  IWJ's research exposes a yawning gap between this sentiment and reality, and we look forward to continuing to do our part to hold Mondelēz accountable."

A copy of the full report titled "Breaking Faith" is available here.

Report Summary
The report specifically highlights the plight of certain workers from the Mondelēz /Nabisco plant in Chicago, which in 2015 laid off 600 workers and shipped those same jobs to its new facility in Mexico. Several former Mondelēz employees are featured, including Stan Milewski, a former baker at Mondelēz in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Mr. Milewski is cited saying, "we've seen 13 bakeries whittled down to 4 and a half — now that Chicago is only half full." He continues, "we don't expect to live in the same world, because this world does change. But ever since Mondelēz took over, they are fast tracking these changes. They just don't have the interest of the workers at heart. The executives just want to line their pockets."

IWJ's research also included data surrounding the public subsidies provided to Mondelēz International throughout the U.S., all of which were predicated upon the shared focus of keeping manufacturing jobs alive in those respective cities. Of note in the report is that Mondelēz's Chicago plant – the focal point of much of the report – took a significant public subsidy and still outsourced 600 jobs to Mexico. 

The BCTGM and IWJ are currently hosting a press conference at the AFL-CIO headquarters at 10:00 a.m. today, where several faith leaders, representatives from IWJ, and Congressman John Lewis will be in attendance.  Congressman Lewis is expected to make public remarks about the contents of the report.

A press conference announcing the report will be live streamed via Facebook at facebook.com/InterfaithWorkerJustice and facebook.com/fightforamericanjobs.

Contacts: 
Ron Baker, BCTGM Strategic Campaign Coordinator 
(703) 508-2637
[email protected]  

Jonathan Morgan or Natalie Brandt
Perry Street Communications
(214) 965-9955
[email protected]
[email protected]  

SOURCE Interfaith Worker Justice