Wabtec workers in Wilmerding, Greensburg to rally for fair contract, could strike as soon as Wednesday
When: Saturday, April 27th, noon
Where: Wilmerding Park, Westinghouse Avenue, Wilmerding PA
For more information contact:
Ben Wilson, UE Field Organizer
(412) 935 7545 | ben.wilson@ueunion.org
Members of UE Local 610, who work at Wabtec’s Wilmerding and Greensburg facilities, will rally on Saturday against Wabtec’s demands for concessions. The company’s demands include major increases to health insurance, cuts to overtime pay, random drug testing, reducing recall rights, and freezing the pension. The company’s proposals would also allow management to change and combine job duties and rates of pay with little contractual right for the local to resist.
“These concessions are unacceptable to our members,” said Local 610 President Antwon Gibson. “Wabtec is a highly profitable company, and they can easily afford to settle a fair contract. This is corporate greed, pure and simple.”
Local 610 members voted on Wednesday to authorize their executive board to call a strike if necessary. Their contract expires on May 1.
Local 610 members will be joined by Wabtec workers from Erie, PA, where UE Locals 506 and 618 struck for nine days earlier this winter against Wabtec’s demands for concessions after Wabtec took over GE Transportation.
Local 610 has represented workers at the Wilmerding plant since 1937, and struck for six and a half months against concessions in 1981-82.
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