Dear John,
In March of 2020, workers at the Refresco bottling plant in New Jersey walked out to protest their company’s complete disregard for their safety in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than two a half years later, they are at the bargaining table fighting for a first union contract that protects their health and safety, and they need your support to win the strongest possible contract!
Sign the petition supporting Refresco workers at https://nationalcosh.org/workedup
A delegation of workers will be delivering the petition to the corporate headquarters of KKR, the private-equity firm that owns a majority stake in Refresco, next Wednesday.
Refresco workers began organizing with UE in February 2020 after years of abusive treatment by supervisors, low wages, paltry benefits, sexual harassment, an unforgiving attendance system that penalizes workers for getting sick, and constant schedule changes. During the pandemic, the company imposed 12-hour shifts, which have led to more accidents and made it more difficult for workers to spend time with their families. In 2022, Refresco was named one of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health’s “Dirty Dozen” for their abysmal health and safety record.
Workers won a union election to be represented by UE in June of 2021, but the company refused to recognize the results, forcing them to hold a second election in May of this year. After workers won that second election by a larger margin than the first, the company began negotiating — but they need to hear that the public supports their workers’ right to a safe and healthy workplace.
Add your signature today: https://nationalcosh.org/workedup
Thank you for supporting workers' rights to a safe and healthy workplace!
