Mott’s Workers Achieve Victory with Ratification of New Contract

As you may recall, over 300 Mott’s workers in Williamson, NY went on strike on May 23, 2010, due to unfair requests that the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) was making in regards to the workers’ new contracts. DPS was looking to reduce wages and benefits and was making attempts to break their union, Retail, Wholesale, and Department Stores Workers (SWDSU) Local 220.

Yesterday, these workers found victory with the ratification of a new contract. Through their hard work and tremendous popular support, Mott’s workers have a new contract that restores their current wage levels and continues defined-benefit plans. Mott’s workers will be returning to work on Monday, September 20, 2010, knowing that they were able to stand up for themselves, take action for and achieve what they know is right, and were able to show that there is strength in numbers.

Furthermore, this strike demonstrates that good jobs are important and worth fighting for, and that companies should not try to reverse labor standards that have been set in place. If corporations try to reduce workers’ standard of living, it is important to recall this strike and numerous actions before it, take example and stand strong and united in face of injustice.