A number of key issues still divide the two parties. [UE Local 506 President Scott] Slawson said those issues include general wage increases, health care, the right to strike over grievances and the progressive wage scale that initially pays new employees at a lower rate.
From the union’s perspective, he said, the company still has a long way to go.
Building more [Tier 4] locomotives in Erie “would be a benefit to the company, to the community we live in and obviously a benefit to the economy as well,” Slawson said. “Wabtec preaches that they’re all about making the transition into greener jobs and greener technologies, but they just kind of flat out ignored us at the bargaining table with those demands. They preach that they want to become a green company, but they don’t want to partner with the union who’s driving toward the same outcome.”
After weeks of picketing, UE Local 506 and 618 workers on strike got a taste of the islands with a free concert. Robbie York, known in the music world as Lopaka Rootz, looked to provide a positive boost of energy through his playing.
Meanwhile at the other entrance of Wabtec on Franklin Avenue, the Benedictine Sisters hosted a silent peace walk, showing their solidarity with those on strike.
“Workers from UE Locals 506 and 618 are now officially being backed not only by Democrats, but Republicans as well. Erie County officials are now supporting them, by a bi-partisan resolution. Erie County Council Chairman Brian Schank said this was an issue that wasn’t decided by D versus R, it was just simply the right thing to do.”
For an hour or so late Thursday afternoon, about 250 people stood in the summer heat on Isabella Street on Pittsburgh’s North Shore and listened to union members talk about struggles with their employers.
They heard from members of two United Electrical Workers locals in Erie who are on strike at Wabtec Corp.’s plant there over a number of issues, including affordable health care, livable wages and the right to strike over grievances. Those workers build locomotives for Wabtec, headquartered in a glass and steel office building on Isabella, just down the block from PNC Park.
President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Angela Ferrito spoke to the union workers and told them that they are with them in this battle. “We are standing in solidarity with them as they take on this huge corporation in a fight for fair working conditions and fair wages for all of the workers”
In a landslide vote, 94% of Stanford’s graduate worker voters said ‘yes’ to being represented by the Stanford Graduate Workers Union (SGWU), according to an email announcement on Thursday. The final vote count was 1639 to 108, with a turnout rate of just over half.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certification of the results will cement the Stanford Graduate Workers Union (SGWU), affiliated with the United Electrical Workers (UE), as the official representative of eligible graduate students in collective bargaining with the University.
Instead of using its $8.3 billion in annual sales and 13% increase in profits last year to create good union jobs for people making green locomotives, the [Wabtec] board of directors authorized $750 million on stock buybacks to increase shareholder dividends.
That's an insult — not just to the workers who make the company run, but to the rest of us who stand to benefit if the company followed the union's lead.
“As we transition to green manufacturing, we have a major opportunity to reinvest in good jobs in this country,” said UAW President Shawn Fain. “But corporate America isn’t going to let that happen without a fight. Just like they’ve done for generations, UE is leading the way, on and off the job, on the picket line, and in our communities. To our UE family: we’ve got your back.”
Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis visited UE Local 506 members at the picket lines Monday evening, showing his and Governor Shapiro’s support of union workers.
Lt. Gov. Davis agreed with union members on strike that they deserve fair wages and signed a letter of support for UE Local 506 and 618, sending it to Wabtec executives.
He said he did so to let those executives know where the Commonwealth’s leadership stands on the situation.