Forty workers at Milk-Bone’s plant in Buffalo are on strike, after rejecting a tentative agreement.
The 40 maintenance and repair workers are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 330. They are among 277 employees at the plant.
Production at the Urban Street plant continues, according to Ohio-based J.M. Smucker, which owns Milk-Bone.
The workers went on strike early Monday after overwhelmingly rejecting a tentative three-year deal, said Rick Dahn, a business representative with Machinists District 65.
J.M. Smucker said it does not anticipate an immediate impact on product availability due to the walkout.
“A majority of our Buffalo employees are not participating in the strike and will continue operations at our facility,” the company said. “We will also maintain production of our Milk-Bone dog snacks at our Topeka, Kansas, manufacturing facility, as well as several co-packers.”
The workers on strike include mechanics, electricians, oilers and pipefitters.
Dahn said the workers are seeking a combined 20% increase in pay over the three years of a deal, including a 13% hike in the first year. The pay increases in the previous contract – a combined 9% over three years – were outstripped by inflation, and the workers are seeking larger pay increases to keep pace with the higher cost of living, he said.
“What the company offered the members is not acceptable,” Dahn said.
The workers also rejected extending the previous contract, opting to walk out instead.
Dahn said he was awaiting a response from the company about resuming bargaining.
“We have a strong track record of providing competitive wages and benefits to all employees and have always engaged fairly and transparently in our negotiations with our union partner,” the company said. “Regarding our negotiations with the (machinists), we are confident the agreement put forward was not only fair but competitive based on the current market.”
