Union Rallies In Show Of Support For Freehold Nestle Workers

FREEHOLD, NJ — The union representing 200 workers at the Nestle plant in Freehold rallied at the factory Tuesday to support employees, as the company says it has concluded its "decisional bargaining" with the union.

The global Nestle corporation, based in Vevey, Switzerland, is "considering options" for its 75-year-old Freehold instant coffee factory at 61 Jerseyville Ave., on the Freehold/Freehold Township line.

The company said Tuesday its representatives "met again with the union representing the Freehold factory to further discuss the ongoing challenges facing the facility."

The challenges include the age of the plant, its "limited operational flexibility" and its "inability to meet instant coffee demand in a cost-effective way," the company said.

But a union representative said the company needs to consider the iconic role such brands as Taster's Choice and Nescafe have in society - and that are only produced in America in the Freehold plant.

"Freehold has done a lot for the company," said Teamsters Local 11 Recording Secretary Anita Clark, adding that even the borough mayor worked there as a student.

And she said the union is "trying to persuade them" that employees have done "so much for the success" of Nestle.

Clark said the company will discuss the future of the plant at the Switzerland headquarters, and she expects workers will have an update in about two weeks.

"We appreciate the union’s willingness to discuss the situation, including the annual cost savings required to make continuing operations there viable for our business in the long term, " said a spokesperson for Nestle USA, based in Arlington, Va.

The company's decision process has also included conversations with local Freehold officials and New Jersey government agencies, the company said.

Clark said the union, too, is involving area legislators and officials to see what can be done to preserve the company operation there.

But it seems the ball is now in the company's court.

"Decisional bargaining with the union has concluded, and our leadership team will now make a final decision regarding the factory. We are committed to giving our Freehold employees updates in a timely manner,” the spokesperson said.

Although the borough government has no information regarding the company sessions with the union, the borough hopes the "good-paying jobs" can remain in Freehold.

"The Borough, Mayor (Kevin) Kane and the Borough Council encourage all parties to negotiate in good faith with the objective of keeping these good-paying jobs here in Freehold," said Borough Business Administrator Stephen J. Gallo.

"The borough stands ready to assist in whatever way we can, and we continue to coordinate with state and federal resources to keep Nestle here in the borough," he added.

He said Kane and members of the Borough Council met with Teamsters Local 11 leadership Tuesday morning to "offer encouragement and support."

The company had invited the union to sit down and talk about the future of the site early in May.

Michael Curcio, president of Teamsters Local 11, based in Haledon, has said previously that he will "fight for my membership," and he was at the rally Tuesday.

Curcio said he will keep his membership of 200 employees and the public informed of how discussions progress with Nestle.

No final decision on the fate of the plant has been made as yet, according to the company.

But it acknowledged last month that the turn of events is a concern for employees.

"We recognize this process creates uncertainty for our Freehold team and are committed to providing regular updates and supporting our employees during this process," a company spokesperson has said.

Nestle is a global company with 275,000 employees around the world. Its products are sold in 188 countries, and it operates more than 340 factories in 77 countries, according to internet sources.

The Freehold plant has been a mainstay in the borough. According to the borough, the plant pays about $600,000 annually in property taxes and provides over $25 million in ratables.