Stella D’oro Owners To Close Factory After Workers Win Reinstatement

Last week, a federal judge reinstated 134 workers who had been on strike at the Stella D’oro cookie factory in the Bronx for nearly 10 months. The victory would prove to be short lived. On July 6, Stella D’oro’s owners, Brynwood Partners, announced plans to shutter the factory.

Brynwood says it will close the plant in 90 days because it cannot afford to keep the facility open without major concessions from the workers’ union, the Bakery, Confectionary Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers.

The struggle at Stella D’oro began in May 2008 when Brynwood began negotiating its first contract at the company after purchasing the cookie maker from Kraft Foods in 2007. Brynwood immediately put forth proposals that included severe wage cuts, givebacks on holidays, sick days and vacation time, and all but eliminated the grievance process.

Negotiations stalled when Brynwood refused to provide the union with the financial information required for the bargaining process.  Workers went on strike in August 2008 and filed charges of unfair bargaining practices with National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The striking workers received solidarity actions from 1199SEIU and virtually the entire NYC labor movement.

On July 3 an administrative law judge with the NLRB found that the company had refused to properly bargain with the union by declining to provide the union with a copy of its 2007 audited financial statement.

Stella D’oro workers have vowed to fight the closing. As they headed back to work on July 6, they were joined by many supporters who joined them in chanting “We Are Stella!” as they walked through the factory’s gates. The union’s attorney has indicated that labor is pressing Brynwood to sell the factory and let someone else run the company, rather than close it.

Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz issued a statement highlighting the importance of the factory and the jobs it supports to the borough of the Bronx.

“Stella D’oro has been a Bronx institution for decades, providing thousands of jobs to Bronxites over the years,” said Diaz in his statement. “Its closure would signify a sad end of an era for our borough and my office will do everything it can to prevent this hastily made decision and keep Stella D’oro and the much need jobs the factory provides in Kingsbridge.”