MASON CITY – The “Journey for Justice” came through Mason City Tuesday to show support for local locked out union employees.
The “Journey for Justice” is a group of BCTGM (Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers) union workers making a 1,000 mile journey to protest the lockout of American Crystal Sugar workers.
Local workers joined “Journey for Justice” participants to protest the lockout Tuesday just outside the Crystal Sugar plant on Mason City’s north side.
(PHOTO: “Al” and other union workers protest the on-going lockout of Crystal Sugar workers in Mason City.)
Currently, about 25 local workers are locked out of their jobs at the plant, local union leaders told NorthIowaToday.com.
“It would have been nice to have some support from local leaders like the mayor and city council,” said Tom Willett of Mason City. “A letter of support would have been nice. They made a big deal about the garbage plant jobs, but here are 25 jobs they could help save.”
About a dozen men were camped on County Road B-20 protesting. Cars drove by and honked their support every few seconds. There was rain and cold, but their resolve was strong. “There has been no new developments in the negotiations,” said union president Tom Johanns. “Strohm Engineering continues to employ scabs right now.”
The lock-out began last August 1st.
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To you uninformed and misinformed and just plain uneducated negative commenters. If it were’nt for unions your so called good wages and benifits would not be there, let alone your safety at the workplace. Take away our unions and you might as well go back in time, wait a minute, I think that’s where we’re headed. I guess some of you think things will get better at the workplace like wages and benifits if the corporations continue with the greed. Wow, I think my 5 year old grandson can see this. I invite you all to stop at our picket and get educated and stop hiding behind those fake names.
This is nothing but corporate greed the workers should be supported. The company is making millions in profits there should be no reason to lock out the workers. These men and women were following the law when they went out on strike.
They think that just being union is all they need to demand support. Look what happened to the Holsim people at the cement plant. The union negotiated them right out of a job and the city lost all of the taxes because of it. They need to quit whinning and go to work.
I’d appreciate a story with more specifics. I’ve seen the pro and con comments but we haven’t been told much via news. Like what is the average wage there and what are the benefits? Someone told me that the workers there had really good healthcare that had no deductible or copays? Is that true? What else did they have for benefits? What exactly is being taken away? Seriously if you want people on your side to stand up for you then please make your case with specifics so people can see if you are being mistreated.
Try Kraft or Cargil, Kraft has shitty hours but I did it for 24 years and made a pretty good living and retirement
If you can drive a forklift marten brower is hiring @ 13.65 and ventura foods in albert lea @ 16.45
jobs were not lost, they were given away
Your jobs are gone. They have hired replacement workers who are doing the work and not demanding money from the company that they have not earned. You had a good job and you lost it because you thought you had them over a barrel. I bet your glad you paid those union dues now. Get a job somewhere else and don’t cause problems.
We were not asking for more money only to keep working. We wanting to work though the contract but were locked out. The contract was ended with the subject to change at the end. What kind of contract is that? We are not causing any problems, only want to be back working even under the old contract. Do you know of any jobs that pays a descent wage to make a living here in north iowa Let me know if there is one I’m willing to work for a descent wage right now.
Signed Locked out and looking for a good job
BE STRONG GUYS BUT ONCE YOU GET YOUR JOBS BACK YOU GUYS MIGHT ASK THE COMPANY IF YOU DISBAND FROM THE UNION CAN WE GET MORE MONEY? lOOK AT CURRIES,KRAFT,CARGILL THINK ABOUT IT
So, how’s that union doing for you and the dues you paid in?? They get your job back yet?? That is if you have one to go to!!
”A letter of support would have been nice. They made a big deal about the garbage plant jobs, but here are 25 jobs they could help save.”
then…
”There has been no new developments in the negotiations,” said union president Tom Johanns. ”Strohm Engineering continues to employ scabs right now.”
So the jobs are still there? They are just being done by non union employees?