By Yvonne Gordon

Graphic Communicator photo by Yvonne Gordon

Odell Spragins, left, and Bruce Flozak work on a press at Cameo Container Corp., a part of Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.

When parents across the nation and the world took their children to see Disney's "101 Dalmatians," little did they know that the giant cardboard cutouts showing Cruela De Vil and the adorable puppies was the work of the some 135 members of Chicago 415S at the Cameo Container Corp.

Plant Manager Edward Fron explained that workers at the plant produce display work for Disney's video-tape division. In addition to Disney, the plant has other large national or regional clients such as Rand-McNally.

"Our business is very diversified," Fron said, adding: "Forty percent is controlled by 20 accounts. The rest is made up of more than 400 accounts – smaller businesses. We run work for a lot of 'mom and pop' businesses."

They make their own flexographic process printing plates for the work in the plant unless the plate needed is too large, then the work is sent out to a shop that can make really large flexographic plates.

The plant became a part of Stone Container Corp. in 1965. The hourly workers were already members of Local 415S. Fron, an engineer, started his career in the plant on the dock and was a member of the bargaining unit.

In addition, Fron noted, "my assistant, Raul Rodriguez, also came up through the ranks." He added that there is a superintendent on each of the three shifts and "two of the three superintendents were shop stewards." He said that he considered the job of steward a leadership position, making stewards a good selection for supervisory posts.

Graphic Communicator photo by Yvonne Gordon

Chicago 415S Secy.-Treas. Ellis H. Davis, left, and Edward Fron, plant manager at Cameo Container Corp. in Chicago, discuss work in the plant.

Local 415S Secy.-Treas. Ellis H. Davis noted that the working relationship with management at the plant is good. He said that the work at Cameo has always been a matter of pride with the employees. He noted that the lines of communication between the union and management were good.

The plant has historically had an excellent safety record – something both Local 415S and the company are proud of. A main hall outside the executive offices is lined with safety awards and citations – a tribute to the combined efforts of both the company and the employees in the area of safety.

There are usually three full shifts, five days a week. But in the fall work orders increase and the plant can get "really busy" and go to six days, according to Davis.

In November, Stone Container, Cameo's parent company since 1965, merged with a subsidiary of Jefferson Smurfit Corp. As a result of the transaction, Stone Container Corp. became a subsidiary of Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.