What Kellogg's Strike Will Mean For Your Breakfast Favorites

About 1,400 Kellogg Company workers went on strike Tuesday, putting a halt to some production of America’s breakfast favorites: Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops.

The strike includes factories in Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Tennessee and it is unclear how the supply of the iconic breakfast staples would be affected by these workers demanding job protections, vacation and holiday pay, and health care.

“For more than a year throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, Kellogg workers around the country have been working long, hard hours, day in and day out, to produce Kellogg ready-to-eat cereals for American families," Anthony Shelton, president of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union said in a statement.

"Kellogg's response to these loyal, hardworking employees has been to demand these workers give up quality health care, retirement benefits, and holiday and vacation pay. The company continues to threaten to send additional jobs to Mexico if workers do not accept outrageous proposals that take away protections that workers have had for decades," Shelton added.

CNN noted that although union members are concerned about jobs being sent to Mexico, Kellogg products produced abroad are sent to overseas markets rather than the U.S. In fact, 40% of Kellogg sales in 2020 were from outside of North America.

In response to the strike, Kellogg spokesperson Kris Bahner said in a statement that the company was “disappointed” by the union, adding that their pay and benefits “are among the industry’s best.”

“We remain committed to achieving a fair and competitive contract that recognizes the important work of our employees and helps ensure the long-term success of our plants and the company. We remain ready, willing and able to continue negotiations and hope we can reach an agreement soon,” Bahner said.