Kellogg's workers have agreed to end strikes at US cereal plants that had attracted attention from the White House and other politicians amid a wave of labor actions in the country, according to the company.
The strike began on October 5 at Kellogg's cereal plants in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nebraska and Tennessee, with workers objecting to the company's two-tiered wage structure, among other grievances.
President Joe Biden threatened to replace the striking workers after the firm known as Best Breakfast cereals drew a lot of criticism, including from President Joe Biden.
The deal that was reached last week with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union BCTGM, covering about 1,400 workers, will see wage increases and improved benefits, according to the company.
Steve Cahillane, Kellogg's Chairman and CEO, said in a statement that they were pleased that they reached an agreement that brings their cereal employees back to work.
We look forward to their return and continue to produce our beloved cereal brands for our customers and consumers. BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton welcomed the deal, saying that our striking members at Kellogg's ready-to- eat cereal production facilities courageously stood their ground and sacrificed so much in order to achieve a fair contract. The Kellogg dispute came amid a wave of threatened and actual strikes across American businesses in recent months, which have seen workers at businesses ranging from hospitals to factories walk off the job.
The action at cereal factories attracted the attention of prominent Washington Democrats after Kellogg's move to replace striking workers, with Biden saying he was deeply troubled by the decision.
Bernie Sanders was at a rally with striking workers in Michigan last week, cheering their stand against corporate greed.