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News :: Miscellaneous |
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JeffBoat Wildcat Strike, The Teamsters & CitiGroup: What's Next? |
Current rating: 0 |
by Mike Lehman
(No verified email address) |
06 May 2001
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This is an interesting situation in nearby Louisville, Kentucky. JeffBoat workers rejected a contract that undermined worker input by letting the company work with Local 89 of the Teamsters to chnage the contract. The workers are now on a wildcat strike against their company and their union. A meeting with Teamster leadership to sanction the strike was to have been held today. |
The following is from the wildcatter's website:
Workers at JeffBoat, a major US shipyard owned by CitiCorp Group, are staging a wildcat strike against their company and their union. Workers at JeffBoat, the United States' largest inland shipyard located on the Ohio River in Jeffersonville, Indiana, are on wildcat strike as of April 30th, 2001. JeffBoat workers were presented with a contract proposal that set them back on every point and gave their union, Teamsters Local 89, the power to make deals with the company without the members' consent. Officials at Local 89 attempted to intimidate JeffBoat workers into ratifying the contract. When JeffBoat workers rejected the contract proposal by a four-to-one margin, Local 89 President Fred Zuckerman announced--after all but twenty workers had left--that he would not sanction the strike. Union officials and office staff were instructed to call workers' at home and demand they report to work as usual or face penalties.
On Monday morning, several JeffBoat workers refused to enter the shipyard and started an unsanctioned picket line. Other workers joined in and by lunchtime there was a total walkout at JeffBoat shipyard. Monday afternoon JeffBoat workers packed Local 89 demanding an answer from President Zuckerman who now claims a "clerical mistake" has resulted in a year-long extension of JeffBoat workers' contract.
The wildcat strike at JeffBoat has begun.
You can help these workers by calling Local 89 and asking to speak to President Fred Zuckerman. Demand he sanction this strike. A sanctioned strike will allow JeffBoat workers--almost all of whom are supporting families--to receive their strike funds. That is a small but basic first step to justice for JeffBoat workers. Teamsters Local 89 can be reached by calling 502-368-5885 or 1-800-782-0896.
You can also call JeffBoat and ask for company President, Bob Green. Tell Mr. Green that you do not appreciate the fact that JeffBoat workers are asked to work in dangerous conditions and make half the industry standard while he sits in his safe office and brings home over a million a year. These workers are entitled to at least some of the wealth they create. You can reach JeffBoat at 812-288-0200.
Follow links at the bottom of the webpage for more info.
Go to the Ohio Valley IMC site link on the left of this page for the latest news.
Solidarity. |
See also:
http://www.geocities.com/jeffboatwildcat/
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