Tasty Baking Company on August 16 announced that 240 hourly production, sanitation and distribution workers in the company’s Philadelphia Navy Yard facility voted on August 11 to be represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union. The company has approximately 340 total hourly and salaried workers at its Philadelphia baking and distribution facility. The results of the election have not yet been certified by the National Labor Relations Board. Before this vote, the company already had approximately 40 of its employees represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which began their representation in 2005.
With regards to the optimization efforts at the new bakery, the company remains intently focused on improving overall performance at the facility. Management continues to work closely with equipment vendors, outside consultants and a specially mobilized internal team to address challenges that impacted equipment efficiency and performance in the first and second quarters of 2010. Management continues to anticipate that during the fourth quarter of 2010, the company will achieve the efficiencies necessary to generate the annualized, pre-tax savings of $13 million to $15 million, net of facility leases, but before debt service.
“We respect the decision of our employees and, as we already have a portion of our labor force represented by a union, we have experience with the collective bargaining process,” said Charles Pizzi, chief executive officer, Tasty Baking Company. “This vote by employees in the Philadelphia facility does not change or disrupt our primary priority, which is to optimize the bakery, achieve our stated annual savings goals, and grow our business.”
About Tasty Baking Company
Tasty Baking Company, founded in 1914 and headquartered in Philadelphia, is one of the country’s leading bakers of snack cakes, pies, cookies, and donuts with manufacturing facilities in Philadelphia and Oxford, Pa. Tasty Baking Company offers more than 100 products under the Tastykake brand name.