When union workers and management don't see eye-to-eye, the end result can be a strike, which is exactly what is taking place at the Mott's plant in Williamson.

Workers are now taking things into their own hands after months of contract negotiations between management and the Local Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union 220.

Workers at Mott's are calling for their fair share.

"They treat us like we're just a commodity," said Michael Leberth, union president.

Mott's is owned by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, which wants to cut workers wages by a $1.50 an hour.

"If they gave us the amount of pay that they want to give us, I'll go back to where I started four years ago," said Fredric Allman, Mott’s employee.

Union leaders said the contract also includes cuts in employee benefits.

"A reduction in company contribution in 401(k), a reduction in contribution to the health care plan, across the board cuts," said Peter Montalbano, RWDSU organizer.

Workers said the company made a $555 million profit last year, but Lain Hancock, of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, said the reason for the wage cuts is to bring the pay scale back in line with area manufacturing jobs.

“On average, these types of jobs pay about $14 an hour and we're paying considerably more than that, we've been paying as much as $21 an hour,” said Hancock. “We pay folks based on what the market will bare and as we look in the Rochester area, we were a bit out of line with that."

Hourly wage workers say their pay cut would have gone into effect at 6 a.m. Sunday morning, which is when this strike started. They said they will be striking around the clock everyday until an agreement is reached.

"We're trying to force this company into coming back to the table and negotiate," said Leberth.

Employees said they are willing to bypass a raise to eliminate cuts.

"It's not like we're asking for any more. We just don't want to lose any more," said Ann Vollertsen, a 30-year employee at Mott’s.

Hancock said the company will work with its employees to reach a final agreement, and that at the end of the day both sides want the same thing.

"These have been good employees and they're our employees and we want resolve this and have them back at work as soon as possible," said Hancock.

"We want to do everything we can to get back to work. We want don't want to be out here," said Leberth.

Mott's
Retail, Wholesale and Department, Store Union