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First UE Contract Stops Takebacks, Improves Wage Equity at Ferro

November 10, 2008
Waukegan, IL

On October 18, members of UE Local 1137 voted overwhelmingly to ratify their first union contact. Workers at the Ferro Pfanstiehl pharmaceutical plant had joined UE in May, when they chose UE representation by a two-to-one margin in an NLRB election.

Two major issues that drove both the organizing drive and contract negotiations were workers’ desire to stop the company from taking away employee benefits, and the need for a fair and rational wage system. Pay rates were all over the board, and even workers performing the same job often received vastly different wages.

Local 690 Reduces Wage Differentials, Holds Down Healthcare Costs at Kenson

November 10, 2008
Warrendale, PA

In late October, UE Local 690 reached agreement with Kenson Plastics for a new three-year contract, which members ratified by a more than two-to-one margin. The local succeeded in retaining the existing healthcare arrangement, whereby the employer fully pays the premium for single coverage, and employees with family or dependent coverage contribute $75 a month toward the premium.

Local 151 Wins Wage, Benefit Increases, Better Job Security in Aetna Contract

November 10, 2008

Frankilin Park, IL


Local 151 ratified a new contract on October 1 with Aetna Ball Bearing including yearly wage increases of 3 percent, which translates to hourly increase ranging from 50 to 90 cents in the first year, and more in subsequent years. The new agreement freezes worker healthcare costs, increases the pension, and improves job security.

Significant Pay Raises, Other Gains in Norwich City Hall Workers' Contract

November 9, 2008
Norwich, CT

After 16 months of negotiations, Sub-local 11 of UE Local 222, representing Norwich City Hall employees, achieved a three-year contract settlement. The new agreement increases wages each year, by 3.5 percent, 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent. In addition 95 percent of employees also will also receive upgrades which will be implemented incrementally every 6 months and which will bring the average wage increase to 5.6 percent in the second year of the contract. Overall, including the classification upgrades, wage increases will average 3.7 percent a year.

Shelton City Workers Fight Wage Disparities, Protect Healthcare in New Contract

October 14, 2008
Shelton, CT
At the end of a year-long contract fight, members of UE Local 222 CILU, Sub-local 29, voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new four-year agreement that gives them significant wage increases, reduces inequities in wages, and retains fully-paid healthcare.  Sub-local 29 members work for the City of Shelton in the Highways, Building Maintenance, and Parks and Recreation departments.

For the first time ever, each department elected its own rank-and-file representative to serve on the bargaining committee.

UE Charlotte City Workers Mobilize, Block Attempt to Privatize Their Jobs

October 14, 2008
Charlotte, NC
 

At Charlotte City Council’s September 2 meeting, its privatization committee presented a recommendation to privatize 25 percent of solid waste services. Most solid waste workers knew nothing about this effort until a few days before the recommendation. But UE Local 150’s Charlotte chapter immediately sprang into action, with Chapter President James Al Locklear speaking to the council against privatization, just before the recommendation was announced.  

Ralston Maintenance Workers Join Production Workers in UE

October 14, 2008
Lancaster, OH
Voting in a National Labor Relations Board election on September 23 and 24, maintenance workers at the Ralston Foods cereal plant chose membership in UE by a near-unanimous margin.

Early this year on February 4 – just one week after the Ralston production workers voted to affiliate with UE – some of the maintenance workers contacted UE and requested a meeting to find out how they could also join the UE.

Western Region Discusses Wall Street Crisis, Presidential Election, First Contract Struggles

October 10, 2008
Minneapolis

Delegates to the Western Region meeting on September 27 and 28 discussed the presidential election and the national financial crisis. But there was also time to discuss negotiations and other battles in their workplaces, celebrate the conclusion of Local 1008’s first contract negotiations at USCIS in California (see page 3), and to build support for the tough first contract struggle at Arc Bridges in Gary, Indiana.

Local 1008 Members Ratify First Contracts With Stanley, Northrop Grumman, SPS

October 10, 2008
Laguna Niguel, CA

In late August, members of UE Local 1008 employed by federal government contractors Northrop Grumman, Studley Professional Services (SPS), and Stanley Associates at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Center overwhelmingly ratified their first union contracts. The three-year contracts bring pay raises, establishment of basic union rights, better working conditions, and protection against future changes whether or not there are changes in the contractors operating the center.

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