Published: 16/07/2021

On July 5, 2021, members of IUF affiliate the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) at Frito-Lay, Topeka, Kansas went on strike to defend “justice and dignity on the job.”

  • Employees are being forced to work seven days a week and up to 12 hours per shift
  • Many of the 800 workers on site are only getting an eight-hour break between shifts
  • Over the last decade, the union has repeatedly asked the company to hire more workers and yet despite record profits, Frito Lay management has refused
  • With $1.2 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2021, Frito-Lay is a division of PepsiCo and has been a major contributor to the company; Topeka is one of the largest of Frito-Lay’s 30 U.S. manufacturing facilities

Please read the full statement from BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton here!

This strike is about more than wages and benefits. It is about the quality of life for these workers and their families… BCTGM negotiators stand ready to work toward a fair contract that reflects the value of these hardworking men and women. We simply ask that management recognize the sacrifices our members have made, and work with us to find a solution that promotes the well-being of our membership and their families.
Anthony Shelton, BCTGM International President