More than 100 workers from five unions are out on the street this week because of an unexpected plant shutdown at Brown and Bigelow?s printing plant. Graphic Communications Local 1-B, which represents the largest share of workers, calls the shutdown a lockout.

All five unions ? GCIU Locals 1-B, 1-M and 29-C, Typographical Union Local 30, and Machinists Local 459 ? have gone eight months without new contracts to replace agreements that expired last Dec. 31.

Several of the unions have unfair labor practice charges pending against Brown and Bigelow over the company?s bargaining tactics and its decision to unilaterally impose costlier health and dental insurance plans.

Brown and Bigelow managers claim the one-week shutdown is necessary because sales slowed significantly in August. A letter to employees says the plant will reopen Sept. 8.

But Joyce Hurley, president of GCIU Local 1-B, says the plant ?is busting at the seams with work,? is behind on deliveries, and has a two- to three-week backlog of printing orders. She calls the shutdown a lockout designed to pressure her members, who gave unanimous strike authorization to their bargaining committee in August.

Bill Smith Jr., son of the owner of Brown and Bigelow, talks with members of GCIU Local 1-B who are picketing outside the plant. Union Advocate photo

Health insurance is key obstacle
The company and unions are butting heads primarily over health insurance. The unions representing typographers, printers, lithographers and machinists participate in the company?s main health and dental plans. However, Brown and Bigelow changed those plans earlier this year without negotiating the changes, union negotiators say.

The company eliminated one dental option, forcing all workers into a costlier plan, union negotiators say. The company also switched health insurance from an HMO to a catastrophic insurance plan that drastically increases workers? out-of-pocket costs.

In addition, Brown and Bigelow has backed out on wage increases it initially proposed at the bargaining table, union negotiators say.

Trading wages for insurance
The 65 workers in Local 1-B have a separate wage and benefits battle. These workers, who do finishing and warehouse work, have a different health insurance plan in which the company covers the entire premium, said Mike Wicke, a 33-year employee who is on Local 1-B?s negotiating committee.

Now, however, Brown and Bigelow wants employees to pay $147 a month for the health insurance, which is the equivalent of a pay cut of more than 90 cents an hour, Wicke said. The union is willing to freeze wages through next May if the company continues to pay 100 percent of monthly health premiums, Wicke says, a proposal the company has rejected.

Wicke says that, through the years, workers at Brown and Bigelow sacrificed higher wages in order to maintain fully funded health insurance.

That makes wages at Brown and Bigelow, which range from $10.67 to $15.54 an hour, the lowest in Local 1-B, he said. ?If he wants to pay what they pay other people in the local, I?ll gladly pay for hospitalization.?

Seasonal work woes
Mike Miller, a 20-year employee and a Local 1-B steward, said the seasonal nature of Brown and Bigelow?s calendar printing business means ?they?re not paying for half the people for half the year anyway.?

Miller said Local 1-B?s contract allows a two-week shutdown in July, but that there has never been a shutdown at this time of year. In fact, August traditionally begins the busy season. It?s not unusual for the company to schedule overtime and to start hiring temps in August, he said. Instead, even before the shutdown, about 20 of the local?s members remained on layoff this year.

Hurley said company negotiators know that what they?re offering her members is unreasonable. She said she asked Craig Smith, the owner?s son, point-blank: ?Craig, could you honestly support your wife and children on $10.67 an hour? He said, ?No, I couldn?t. I couldn?t ask anyone to do that.? I said, well, that?s what you?re asking your people to do ? plus pay $147 a month.?

Workers are conducting informational picketing from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day this week outside the plant, 345 Plato Blvd. East, St. Paul.