MOOSIC, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Workers at Bazooka’s Ring Pop manufacturing facility in Moosic have approved a new three-year contract, ending months of negotiations that earlier this year prompted union members to authorize a strike.
More than 60 Teamsters Local 229 members ratified the agreement, which includes a 15% wage increase, lower health care costs, improvements to the Teamsters pension plan, enhanced vacation benefits, higher shift differentials and stronger profit-sharing language.
The vote comes about two months after union members overwhelmingly authorized a strike in May following stalled contract talks.
“This contract is a major win for the hardworking men and women at Bazooka,” said Joe Secor, vice president and business agent for Teamsters Local 229. “Their labor is crucial to producing Ring Pops, one of the company’s most iconic products. I’m proud of the unity and determination this group showed throughout negotiations.”
The Moosic plant has become an increasingly important part of Bazooka’s operations after the company was forced to close its longtime factory in Scranton’s Pine Brook section because shifting ground beneath the facility made it unsafe to continue operating there.
When the new Moosic facility opened, company officials said its larger footprint would significantly increase production. Bazooka CEO Tony Jacobs said the plant is capable of producing about 1.5 million Ring Pops every day and has enough capacity to manufacture roughly 100 million additional Ring Pops each year compared with the former Scranton facility.
Employees at the plant work in production, maintenance, shipping, packaging and quality control, helping manufacture and distribute one of Bazooka’s best-known candy brands nationwide.
“I’ve been at this plant for over 20 years, and I’m glad we were able to secure such a strong contract,” said Teamsters steward Bernie Hoover. “This is going to make a real difference for us and our families. It’s a proud moment for all of us who have built our lives around this work and in this town.”
Teamsters Local 229, based in Scranton, represents more than 1,000 workers in several industries across Northeastern Pennsylvania. The new agreement averts the possibility of a strike and provides labor stability at one of the region’s largest candy manufacturing facilities.