Solidarity for Mott’s factory workers
By
WILLIAMSON, N.Y.--Solidarity is strong here, as about 600 people attended a rally near the Mott's factory to support striking workers on June 26.
The 305 members of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) went on strike a month ago after being told by the Doctor Pepper Snapple (DPS) Group headquarters that their benefits and wages would be cut--management claimed the workers "made too much money."
Outraged, laborers walked out, vowing not to set foot into the factory until a fair contract was brought to the bargaining table. Scabs have since taken their place, risking their safety and lives by operating machinery with little knowledge on how it functions.
Local area labor and social justice organizations supported the rally on June 26. Cheering men, women and their children stood out in the drizzling rain as politicians, fellow union workers and religious leaders took to the podium to speak about the blatant unfairness of DPS and its CEO--who pulled in a whopping $550 million last year.
Rally participants pumped their fists into the air as speakers like RWDSU President Stewart Applebaum shared testimony of how the corporation tried unsuccessfully to divide the union and end the strike. This attempt has only made the union stronger, encouraging the members to stand together like a protective family unit.
If DPS slices their wages and benefits, every single person working for Mott's would not only be unable to pay medical bills, but would face the constant struggle of supporting their families at a reduced pay. Meanwhile, DPS would hoard money from the very people who made their products a household name--the workers themselves.
The words of one key speaker rang true when he declared, "This is the worst example of corporate greed I've ever seen." Though many speakers played into the audience's patriotism by deeming the Mott's bosses "un-American," a few went to the crux of the problem in Apple country: capitalism.
The Mott's strike and rally in Williamson show that corporations such as DPS cannot function without the individuals who come to work daily.
For 35 days, the Mott's factory workers have proved that their labor rakes in the profit, not the infinite "genius" of DPS. In the meantime, the RWDSU workers are confident that they will win this battle.
