LENA, WI (WTAQ) – Union workers at Saputo’s cheese plant in Lena overwhelmingly supported a strike authorization on Sunday.
“It’s lining us up just in case there’s action that needs to be taken,” said Tom Strickland, a business agent with Green Bay-based Teamsters Local 662. “By no means does it mean we’re going on strike.”
Strickland says the 459 production, maintenance and warehouse employees have been operating without a contract for nearly 2 years. At issue are unaffordable health insurance, no pay raises, favoritism and a general lack of respect.
“These folks, they want a contract,” said Strickland. “We want what’s fair and they deserve it.”
Strickland says they’re very familiar with officials at the Montreal-based Canadian dairy company. Local 662 represents over 1,600 Saputo workers at 11 facilities in both the U.S. and Canada.
“There’s an offer out there, but it’s not one that’s acceptable,” said Strickland, adding they have tentatively scheduled a federal mediation meeting for March 4.
WTAQ reached out to officials at Saputo, but they were unavailable for comment.
