What we believe about ourselves and the FLOC boycott of our company

 Background:

Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Inc. is a food manufacturer based in Eastern North Carolina. We purchase cucumbers from independent suppliers and farmers in over nine states and two foreign countries. The Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) is a labor union based in Toledo, Ohio.

FLOC has called for a boycott of Mt. Olive Pickle Company products in its effort to unionize the migrant farm workers who are employees of North Carolina farmers. FLOC insists that we require these farmers to negotiate a union contract for their employees, that our company participate in these negotiations, and that we sign as a party to the contract.

We believe:

Union representation is up to employees and their employers.  We respect union representation decisions reached by our suppliers and their employees. This includes our Ohio cucumber supplier, who has operated under a FLOC contract since 1997.

Mt. Olive purchases raw materials from many producers, including glass, cap, sweetener, vinegar, and salt suppliers. In every case, these suppliers and their employees determine the question of union representation wholly independent of influence from Mt. Olive. Our North Carolina cucumber suppliers and their employees should have that same right.

Good employment practices and working conditions for farm workers deserve vigorous support.  Mt. Olive has actively taken steps to support good practices and conditions:

• Careful selection of cucumber suppliers

• Clear and enforceable supplier compliance expectations

• Incentives for good employment practices through grower workshops and recognitions.

• Collaboration on initiatives to address specific issues affecting migrant farm workers living and working in North Carolina, such as:

-       Worker housing

-       Expanded workers’ compensation insurance coverage on the farm

-       Greater oversight of farm labor contractors (crew leaders)

We do as we say. Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Inc. has earned a good reputation as a corporate citizen, employer, customer, and supplier. We try, every day, to conduct our business in a responsible and ethical fashion, and to fairly address the concerns brought to us.

For more information:

If you have questions about our position or our beliefs, please contact Bill Bryan, president of Mt. Olive Pickle Company, bbryan@mtolivepickles.com, or Lynn Williams, community relations representative, at lwilliams@mtolivepickles.com. To reach us by telephone, call 1-800-672-5041.

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