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, as well as other dedicated partners to continue to bring quality middle-class jobs to the neighborhoods of the City of Chicago. Mondelez should commit to be a partner in these efforts; and
WHEREAS, All residents ofthe City of Chicago join the members of the Chicago City Council in support ofthe men and women and the products that they make as members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Local 300, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 8 and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and-Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, urge Mondelez to re-consider its plan to shrink its Chicago plant, consider instead how to grow its facilities and operations in Chicago in order to take advantage of the skilled workforce and advantages of a Chicago facility, and be part of
the renaissance of manufacturing in the City. The City of Chicago and Mondelez have a long history of positive partnership and the City would like to continue that course through the maintenance and growth of jobs. The citizens of Chicago and the consumers in the United States deserve nothing less than quality middle-class jobs and safe and reliable products that are produced and sold by responsible corporate entities in Jefie \ J3 United Statgs of America; and /
\^^-^%Adj^E IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we call upon the Committee on Ei
Ci^-[A ({c^jc— CaP^' anc' Technology Development to hold a hearing to address this important issue,
J . and we ask that the Committee invite appropriate officials and interested/members of the
errick G. Curtis Alderman, 18th Ward
public \f\ an effort to fully address this matter. .