PepsiCo to shut Chicago bottling plant, affecting 150 employees

PepsiCo stated Monday it’s shutting a Chicago bottling plant, an action the Teamsters union states will certainly influence 150 employees.

PepsiCo stated the choice was tough yet it explained the 60-year-old structure as a center with “physical limitations.” The firm stated it would certainly pay employees for the following 60 days despite the fact that they will not be needed to function.

Teamsters Local 727, which stands for the plant’s employees, stated it was educated of the closure very early Monday in an e-mail sent out by PepsiCo lawyers. The union stated PepsiCo went against government regulation, which needs companies to provide 60 days’ notification of pending plant closures or mass discharges at areas with 50 or even more staff members.

“To lay off over a hundred Teamsters workers with no notice to them or the union, in violation of both our collective bargaining agreement and the law, is about as low as you can get,” John Coli Jr, the secretary-treasurer of Local 727, stated in a declaration.

Coli stated the union discussed a brand-new agreement with PepsiCo this summer season yet had not been outlined a possible closure. He stated the union might take lawsuit versus the firm.

PepsiCo stated its strategies fulfill “applicable legal requirements” and it will certainly collaborate with the union

“Our top priority is to support our employees during this transition, and our commitment to serve Chicagoland remains strong,” PepsiCo stated in a declaration.

Dee- ann Durbin, The Associated Press