UE Local 155 members who work for M Chasen and Son, fed up with low pay and no health insurance, fought off takebacks demanded by the boss and won wage increases he had said he was unwilling to give.
M Chasen and Son is a family-owned company, and while the company claimed not to be doing well financially at the bargaining table, the family who owns the company is doing very well. UE members felt that they should at least have a decent standard of living while working for such a rich boss.
The owner came in with proposals for a wage freeze, eliminating the insurance bonus, and making workers’ use of personal days and sick days more restrictive. In an intense negotiation session, he backed off on taking away their bonus and agreed to give them another personal day, but he wouldn’t offer any wage increase in the first year of the contract. He eventually offered small wage increases in the 2nd and 3rd years of the contract, but that was as far as he would move and he said he was unwilling to offer anything further.
The negotiating committee took this proposal back to the members over their lunch break. They were not satisfied, and voted to strike if the company did not improve its offer. The members wanted a raise in the first year, regardless of how poorly the business was doing.
In subsequent negotiations, the employer offered more money in the second and third year, but still refused to budge on a wage freeze in the first year. However, he underestimated UE members’ determination, which they demonstrated by voting down this offer a second time. After realizing that UE members were serious about their willingness to strike, the company found money for wage increases in the first year.
The new contract includes wage increases of 25 cents in the first year, and 75 cents in the second and third year. UE members kept their insurance bonus and added two new personal days.
The negotiating committee consisted of Jerome Williams and Eduardo Danboyetia. They were assisted by Local 155 President Ron McCullough and Field Organizer Tara McCauley.