STRIKING WORKERS REJECT BEMIS OFFER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eric Sharfstein, Workers United, (917) 208-6980, eric.sharfstein@workers-united.org

Terre Haute, Indiana - Earlier today, members of Local 1426 Workers United, an SEIU affiliate, striking the Bemis factory in Terre Haute, Indiana rejected a contract offer by their employer and voted to continue to strike.

The company, which manufactures flexible packaging, continued to insist on a temporary worker program that would reduce the number of permanent jobs in the factory.

"We want permanent jobs for employees this company hires," said striking Bemis worker Chris Scott. "That's what this community needs and that's what we are fighting for. This company continues to refuse to respect workers' rights."

On the issue of health care, the company insisted on continuing the use of invasive Health Risk Assessment testing on both workers and their spouses.

"Health care benefit improvements are critical for us," said striking Bemis worker Mark Sullivan. "We will not accept the company's attempts to invade our privacy and the privacy of our spouses. If this is not an example of why we need comprehensive health care reform in this country, I don't know what is."

Workers United, SEIU is a union of 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the textile, apparel, laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, manufacturing and distribution industries. www.workers-united.org