13 Jan Senator Bernie Sanders Calls on Ingredion CEO to “Bargain in Good Faith with Workers”
In a scathing letter to Ingredion CEO James Zallie, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) called the company’s treatment of its workers “absolutely unacceptable.”
BCTGM Local 100G (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) members at Ingredion have been on strike since August 1, 2022 – more than 23 weeks. The January 13 letter by Senator Sanders outlines the outrageous proposals by Ingredion that would cut vacation, force 12-hour shifts without overtime pay and diminish seniority.
“The time has come for Ingredion to bargain in good faith, and offer a contract that is fair and that is just, instead of trying to discipline or even fire striking workers for exercising their constitutional right to strike.”
The Senator reminded the CEO of the company’s numerous unfair labor practices in 2015, when Ingredion acquired the Cedar Rapids facility from Penford Products.
Senator Sanders pointed out Ingredion’s financial gains in 2021 and 2022 noting,
“If your company can afford to pay you $10 million per year and spend at least $245 million on stock buybacks and dividends to enrich its wealthy shareholders, it can afford to provide workers with better wages, benefits, and working conditions.”