On September 30, an hour before the existing contract’s midnight expiration, and having already voted to authorize a strike if needed, the members of Local 120 voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached earlier that evening by the union negotiating committee and management of Locke Insulator.
Workers will receive wage increases of 3 percent, 2.75 percent and 2.75 percent over the three years of the contract, in addition to a lump sum payment of $500. The pension multiplier increases by $3.00 the first year and $2.75 the second year. Both the wage and pension gains exceed those in the previous contract. The union did agree to some adjustments to the pension in order to decrease the liability of the fund and increase pension payments. The Social Security supplement for those retiring early was eliminated and a 5 to 15 percent penalty was added on those retiring before 65, but in both cases, workers already near the minimum retirement age were grandfathered and therefore not adversely impacted by the changes. There are minor adjustments to health insurance, with prescription and office visit co-pays increasing by $5, and employee contributions increasing between $5 and $10 in each year of the contract.
Negotiations got off to a rocky start with the company proposing many severe concessions in both economics and contract language. While the union’s negotiating committee came to the table with a list of just eight proposals, the company introduced over two dozen proposals. The majority of members of the union committee had never before been in contract negotiations before, but they did not allow the company to intimidate them in the slightest. The UE bargaining committee firmly rejected the company’s most drastic proposals, but also worked hard with volunteers in the plant to mobilize the membership to fight for a fair contract, and to prepare for a strike. New and veteran volunteers stepped forward to help with the in-shop campaign and on committees making strike preparations.
Just prior to the start of negotiations, members voted for strike authorization. After negotiations began and they saw the company’s terrible proposals, the membership turned up the heat of militancy on the shop floor. The combination of membership activity and leadership by the negotiating committee and other officers, stewards, and activists succeeded in pushing the company to drop its most onerous proposals, and enabled the union to negotiate improvements to wages and the pension.
“Teamwork worked,” says Local President Judy Hedgepeth. “With a great organizing team and strong support from the membership, we were able to get a good contract.”
The union bargaining committee consisted of President Judy Hedgepeth, Vice President Larry Gaither, Chief Stewards Craige Turner and Richard Ervin, and Recording Secretary Cornelius Jones. They were assisted by UE Field Organizer Omar el-Malah.