More than 300 workers at the Dannon yogurt plant here have become
members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers
International Union (BCTGM) following a National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) election that concluded yesterday.

An overwhelming majority  of workers voted on December 5 and 6 to become members of the BCTGM.

"These
workers are to be commended for standing strong in their efforts to
become unionized," notes BCTGM International President Frank Hurt.
"While this organizing victory was the culmination of efforts on many
different fronts, it all came down to the strength of the workers,"
Hurt adds.

The Dannon workers first reached out
to the BCTGM through the union's online organizing contact form in
early January. A group of workers met with BCTGM International
Representative John Price in late January to discuss their desire to
become unionized.

"The workers primary issues
concerned health and safety, retirement and job consistency and
stability" recalls Price. "But what it always comes down to is the
dignity, justice and respect of workers."

The
Dannon Company Inc. is a subsidiary of France-based Groupe Danone, one
of the world's largest food and beverage companies. Groupe Danone is
the world's leading producer of fresh dairy products, the second
largest producer of biscuits and cereal products and a leading producer
of bottled water. In the United States, Dannon has yogurt manufacturing
facilities in Minster, West Jordan, Utah, Fort Worth, Texas, and
Londonderry, New Hampshire.      

According to Price,
the BCTGM's affiliation with the global International Union of Food,
Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers
Associations (IUF), played a large part in the organizing effort. The
majority of Danone's worldwide operations are unionized and the IUF has
a formal relationship with Groupe Danone dating back to 1986.

The
IUF reached out to unions in Europe and Asia that represent Danone
workers to inform them of the organizing efforts in Ohio. Upon learning
of the Dannon workers' desire to join a union, Danone unions from
around the world began sending letters of solidarity to the Minster
workers. Letters were received from Belgium, Russia, Germany and other
countries.
   

"Within this global economy, this  was an overwhelming show of global solidarity," concludes Hurt.