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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Danville Strikers Overwhelmingly Reject Proposal |
Current rating: 0 |
by Peter Miller
Email: peterm (nospam) shout.net (unverified!) |
02 Jul 2001
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Strikers at Bunge-Lauhoff grain company in Danville rejected a contract proposal this morning. Company efforts to undermine solidarity backfired. (Written for radio) |
This morning, union workers on strike at the Bunge (bun-GEE) Lauhoff grain processing plant in Danville rejected a second contract proposal by an overwhelming margin of 166 to 6. Voting was by secret ballot. After two meetings with a federal mediator last week, the company demanded that workers vote on what company managers called their "last, best, and final offer." Union bargaining team member Steve Eversole said that the only changes from the original offer were a small improvement in the pension, a reduction in the duration of the contract, and one other small change. Eversole also said that after the company's demand last Wednesday that workers vote on the contract, the company attempted to undermine the union bargaining team. The company sent a letter to union members and talked to people walking the picket line. The company tried to tell union members the bargaining team wasn't telling members the truth about the proposal. Eversole said that the company's actions backfired, making workers distrust the managers even more. About 200 workers went on strike at the Danville grain processing company on May 16 after rejecting a contract proposal by a margin of 183 to 3. At issue are job security, work hours, and pay. Today's vote of 166 to 6 suggests that union members are not willing to give up and accept the company's terms. Workers at Bunge-Lauhoff are represented by the Paper-Allied-Industrial, Chemical, and Energy Workers Local 6-0972.
Miscellaneous notes from the phone call to Steve Eversole:
166-6. Strong show. Secret ballot. Barg team recommend reject. Why vote? Company tried to force into a vote. 6/27 company threw down a "last, best, and final offer". "We insist that you vote on it." Response: "We don't have a problem voting on it, because we know how strong we are." Mediator wanted a vote, too. Letter to members, talk on picket line: people on the picket line didn't believe the company. No language changes in new contract. Boosted up pension, but not enough to be good for membership. 4-year proposal changed to a 34-month proposal. Moved bonus from one year to another. Meeting beforehand: Steve went through the proposal; membership asked their questions. People were angry with the proposal and that the company sent the letter. They knew the company was doing the old smoke and mirrors trick to them. Where vote? UAW Hall in Tilton. (Donated because on strike.) What next? Called federal mediator, will try to get in touch to see if and when they'll meet again. Call tomorrow. |
