Chicago Nabisco plant
Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The National Biscuit Company, which later became Nabisco, opened the largest commercial bakery in the world on Chicago's Southwest side at 73rd Street and Kedzie Avenue in the Chicago Lawn/Ashburn communities, where for almost 70 years, some of the most popular brands of cookies in America have been made, such as Oreo and Chips Ahoy cookies, and Ritz and Premium crackers; and
WHEREAS, Nabisco at one time employed as many as 4,000 workers and generations of Chicago-area men and women have supported their families, purchased homes, paid for their children's educations and helped create Chicago's middle class, thanks to the good union wages earned at the bakery; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing the economic impact the bakery has had on the City of Chicago and the surrounding community, the City of Chicago and State of Illinois provided financial assistance to make improvements at the plant over the years; and
WHEREAS, Industry observers have pointed to the Chicago bakery as playing a key role in the business success of Nabisco's parent company, Mondelez, in North America, in large part because of the bakery's skilled work force and their ability to -produce a broad range-of Nabisco's products;- and
WHEREAS, In 2015 Mondelez announced it would move key production lines of Oreo cookies and Ritz cracker, along with 600 union jobs that provide economic stability to many middle-class families out of Chicago to Salinas, Mexico; and
WHEREAS, The value of Mondelez stock grew 23% in 2015 and reported total gross revenues of almost $30 billion and gross profits of approximately $11.5 billion, Mondelez/Nabisco were helped by the citizens of Chicago in the past, now is a time for Mondelez to help the citizens of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The Mayor and Members ofthe Chicago City Council work diligently with World Business Chicago, Manufacturing Renaissance, and the Chicago Federation of Labor, a...
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