Hershey Workers Approve Contract

Associated Press
Sunday, June 9, 2002; Page A11

HERSHEY, Pa., June 8 -- Members of Chocolate Workers Local 464 voted overwhelmingly today to approve a new contract with Hershey Foods Corp., ending the longest strike in the company's history.

The April 26 walkout of 2,700 workers largely idled two chocolate plants that make up nearly a quarter of production for the largest U.S. candymaker.

Workers will begin returning to their jobs at the start of the week, company spokesman John Long said.

The main issue had been health care costs. Under the previous four-year contract, workers paid 6 percent of their health care costs, and the company wanted to increase the workers' share to 12 percent over four years.

The agreement kept the workers' share of health care costs at 6 percent in exchange for a smaller wage increase, said Bob Oakley, head negotiator of Chocolate Workers Local 464.

"The people were adamant about it," Oakley said.

The average wage, now about $18 an hour, will be about $19.75 an hour at the end of the contract, he said.

Members voted to approve the proposed contract 1,848 to 226, Oakley said.

During the strike, members of the union affiliated with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union had derided chief executive and board chairman Richard H. Lenny as the chief symbol of a profitable company that rewards executives with huge bonuses and scrimps on worker benefits.