072026...R BROWN/SCHWEBEL'S 2...Youngstown...07-20-26...Sherrod Brown, right, has a roundtable discussion with Schwebel's employees Monday afternoon...John Howley of Youngstown, Local 19, back to camera, Kevin Reynolds of Greenford, Local 19, seated left at table and Steve Anzevino of Jackson Twp., President of Teamsters Local 377, center at table, and other Schwebel's employees...Meeting held at the Teamsters Local 377 Union Hall in Youngstown...by R. Michael Semple

YOUNGSTOWN — Sherrod Brown said Monday afternoon that he wasn’t delivering solutions to Schwebel Baking Company’s workers and retirees in the aftermath of its impending closure.

The former U.S. senator, who is seeking a return to the Senate this November, said he wanted to understand their concerns and challenges as he works to get answers and assistance for them.

“They know I’ll fight for them like I always have,” Brown said after a roundtable discussion at Teamsters Local 377 hall. “These members aren’t making a lot of money. Management didn’t treat them right.”

About 20 union members from the Teamsters and Bakery locals talked about a range of concerns, from vacation pay to pensions.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of federal cases being heard Monday. A U.S. District Court judge in Cleveland is overseeing matters related to employee pensions, while a jurist in Youngstown rules on an emergency request made last week by commercial lender Spectrum to appoint a receiver to liquidate Schwebel’s holdings.

Roundtable participants outlined a bleak picture at its Youngstown and Hebron plants as Schwebel’s winds down operations with workers in Youngstown being released Monday.

One person noted that only one bread line and one bun line are in operation in Youngstown. Another said that major retailers such as Giant Eagle and Walmart have dropped their existing contracts.

Schwebel’s workers in Hebron are reportedly being paid $1,000 retention bonuses by the fast-food giant Burger King to remain on the job through next week, one roundtable participant said.

“It’s just a shame they didn’t invest in that bakery through the years, because that was a good bakery when it started,” said Sam Cook, Teamsters Local 377 secretary/treasurer. “(The owners) put all the money in their pockets, and they didn’t invest in that bakery. And it’s a shame how they’re treating the members right now to find out from the media that you’re losing your job.”

Wanda Garza, a member of Bakery Local 19 and Teamsters Local 337, said she is concerned about her pension. Eight months away from completing 30 years with the company, Garza said she heard that pending legislation may help her reach that goal.

“That comes down to $2,000 a month or $750 a month,” she said.

Steven Anzevino, Local 377’s president, said the workers hope that vacation time and other benefits in the contract will be honored.

“All we’re asking for is what was agreed to by the Schwebel’s company,” he said. “They should be honoring it. It’s in the contract.”

Anzevino said Schwebel’s ownership has sought a company reduction in pension payments to the unions. He said the membership rejected the proposal.

“This business made them very wealthy, and rightfully so,” Anzevino said of the Schwebel family. “They did a lot of good things for a lot of years, and they employ a lot of people … But they have their nest egg.”

Even with the workers’ concessions, Anzevino said the company wouldn’t promise to be around in three years. The ownership, he said, wouldn’t kick in part of its profits to help the company.

“That’s exactly why we won’t do it, because of the Schwebel family,” Anzevino continued. “They may employ 600 people, but they hold more wealth than those 600 employees, and they were not willing to risk theirs for the sake of these jobs. So we were not willing to do the same.”