BRADLEY, IL – Tension between CSL Behring’s management and its workforce reached a significant milestone on Monday as workers from the Bradley-based biotech branch staged an informational picket, signaling potential industrial unrest. With the firm standing as a pillar in Kankakee County’s economy, a stir here resonates well beyond regional borders.
CSL Behring, operating under the umbrella of the global CSL group with its headquarters in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is a formidable player in the worldwide healthcare sector. Boasting over 27,000 employees scattered across 30 countries, a disturbance in Bradley could send shockwaves to its satellite hubs in Switzerland, Germany, and Australia.
The visual spectacle on Monday along Route 50, with workers congregated in unity and determination, showcased their fervor for just contracts. Their signs – a testament to their demands and a veiled warning of a possible strike.
The clarion call, initiated by the 498c Negotiating Committee, urged its members to rise in solidarity, reminding them of the sacrifices made during the Covid era and asserting their intrinsic value. The committee underscored the need for participation, emphasizing that it strengthens their negotiation stand.
With the current union contract set to expire at the end of September, the upcoming days will undoubtedly be marked by intense deliberations. Kankakee County, and by extension, the global biotech community, waits in heightened anticipation.
