The workers voted 52-2 Saturday to reject a company contract offer that would have cut their pay by about 30 percent by eliminating the workers’ current pay differential for weekend work. The workers, members of Laborers Local 563, went out on strike yesterday.
“Employers are pushing down on the worker,” Kelliher told about 50 picketers gathered outside the plant early Tuesday morning. “You’re on the front lines of this issue we see almost everywhere in Minnesota.” She urged the workers: “Stay strong on this issue.”
State Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, was scheduled to join the strikers on the picketline at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.
 |
| The Legislature was scheduled to reconvene Monday after a week-long recess, but House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher took the time to join striking workers the Fabcon plant in Savage at 7:00 a.m. She urged workers to "stay strong" in their stand to protect overtime pay. Photos by Steve Share |
Striking workers said their jobs at Fabcon regularly brought workdays as long as 16 or more hours and short notice to work weekends.
“That’s what’s needed to be done to get the job done,” said Dave Hotzler, Shakopee, who has worked seven years at the plant. “If you’re tired, you can’t go home.”
“We didn’t mind working the weekends as long as we were paid fairly,” said Bob Sticha, New Prague, who has worked at the plant since it opened in 1971.
Under the current contract, which expired Jan. 31, workers who worked Monday through Friday earned time and one-half for working Saturday and earned double time for working Sunday. The company proposes to schedule work weeks to begin any day of the week and eliminate the extra pay for Saturday and Sunday work.
 |
| Strikers say they are taking a stand for their families. From left are Phil Edberg, Belle Plaine, eight-year employee; Phouvanh Phosythisalath, Burnsville, 10-year employee; Vient Phone, Burnsville, six-year employee; and Phone\'s four-year old son, Bobby. |
“We’re not asking for anything. We’re just asking to keep the contract we have,” said Hotzler.
In addition to demanding long, unpredictable hours at Fabcon, management also expects fewer workers to do more: “We used to have crews of eight guys. Now they’ve got it down to five or four guys,” said Larry Wermerskirchen, who has worked at Fabcon since 1977.
Wermerskirchen described work at the Fabcon plant: “Rough working conditions. Dirty. Dusty. Heat and cold.”
The company produces pre-cast concrete wall panels for the construction industry.
“It’s not easy work… It’s a very dangerous job. We’ve seen many bones broken,” said Tae Kim, Jordan, who has worked 14 years at the plant. “At least they were paying us for it. We just want what’s fair.”
“The company needs to make money. That’s important to each and every one of us,” Kim added. “We just don’t want to get treated unfairly.”
The company and the union met for eight contract negotiation sessions, including three sessions with a state mediator.
“It was all one-sided,” reported Wermerskirchen, who is a Local 563 steward at the plant and a member of the negotiating committee. “What about the word respect? How about loyalty? Faith?”
“Most of the guys who are standing out here have been here at least seven years,” noted Jason Huckabone, Lakeville, a 16-year employee. Some of the Fabcon’s Savage workers who have worked there 20 years, 30 years, or more.
“I’m an old-school guy,” Wermerskirchen said. “When a guy works hard and shows his loyalty, respect him. We’re the best asset the company has.”
“Nobody wants to be on strike but what they’re doing is absolutely absurd,” said Chris Desrosier, Burnsville, a 20-year employee. “This is like a slap in the face.”
Although the strike only is in its second day, workers believe their work stoppage soon will have a major impact on the company.
Fabcon’s Savage plant currently is supplying pre-cast concrete panels for a major federal government project in Colorado, workers said, where the contractor reportedly had only two days of inventory on hand.
Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.minneapolisunions.org
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| A group of about 50 striking Fabcon workers posed for a photo for House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. |
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Laborers strike Savage manufacturing plant
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The workers voted 52-2 Saturday to reject a company contract offer that would have cut their pay by about 30 percent by eliminating the workers’ current pay differential for weekend work. The workers, members of Laborers Local 563, went out on strike yesterday.
“Employers are pushing down on the worker,” Kelliher told about 50 picketers gathered outside the plant early Tuesday morning. “You’re on the front lines of this issue we see almost everywhere in Minnesota.” She urged the workers: “Stay strong on this issue.”
State Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, was scheduled to join the strikers on the picketline at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.
|
| The Legislature was scheduled to reconvene Monday after a week-long recess, but House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher took the time to join striking workers the Fabcon plant in Savage at 7:00 a.m. She urged workers to "stay strong" in their stand to protect overtime pay.
Photos by Steve Share |
Striking workers said their jobs at Fabcon regularly brought workdays as long as 16 or more hours and short notice to work weekends.
“That’s what’s needed to be done to get the job done,” said Dave Hotzler, Shakopee, who has worked seven years at the plant. “If you’re tired, you can’t go home.”
“We didn’t mind working the weekends as long as we were paid fairly,” said Bob Sticha, New Prague, who has worked at the plant since it opened in 1971.
Under the current contract, which expired Jan. 31, workers who worked Monday through Friday earned time and one-half for working Saturday and earned double time for working Sunday. The company proposes to schedule work weeks to begin any day of the week and eliminate the extra pay for Saturday and Sunday work.
|
| Strikers say they are taking a stand for their families. From left are Phil Edberg, Belle Plaine, eight-year employee; Phouvanh Phosythisalath, Burnsville, 10-year employee; Vient Phone, Burnsville, six-year employee; and Phone\’s four-year old son, Bobby. |
“Now they want to work us weekends but they wouldn’t be paying that good compensation for missing our family functions,” said Phil Edberg, Belle Plaine, an eight-year employee. “The kids — there are times when they forget who you are.”
“We’re not asking for anything. We’re just asking to keep the contract we have,” said Hotzler.
In addition to demanding long, unpredictable hours at Fabcon, management also expects fewer workers to do more: “We used to have crews of eight guys. Now they’ve got it down to five or four guys,” said Larry Wermerskirchen, who has worked at Fabcon since 1977.
Wermerskirchen described work at the Fabcon plant: “Rough working conditions. Dirty. Dusty. Heat and cold.”
The company produces pre-cast concrete wall panels for the construction industry.
“It’s not easy work… It’s a very dangerous job. We’ve seen many bones broken,” said Tae Kim, Jordan, who has worked 14 years at the plant. “At least they were paying us for it. We just want what’s fair.”
“The company needs to make money. That’s important to each and every one of us,” Kim added. “We just don’t want to get treated unfairly.”
The company and the union met for eight contract negotiation sessions, including three sessions with a state mediator.
“It was all one-sided,” reported Wermerskirchen, who is a Local 563 steward at the plant and a member of the negotiating committee. “What about the word respect? How about loyalty? Faith?”
“Most of the guys who are standing out here have been here at least seven years,” noted Jason Huckabone, Lakeville, a 16-year employee. Some of the Fabcon’s Savage workers who have worked there 20 years, 30 years, or more.
“I’m an old-school guy,” Wermerskirchen said. “When a guy works hard and shows his loyalty, respect him. We’re the best asset the company has.”
“Nobody wants to be on strike but what they’re doing is absolutely absurd,” said Chris Desrosier, Burnsville, a 20-year employee. “This is like a slap in the face.”
Although the strike only is in its second day, workers believe their work stoppage soon will have a major impact on the company.
Fabcon’s Savage plant currently is supplying pre-cast concrete panels for a major federal government project in Colorado, workers said, where the contractor reportedly had only two days of inventory on hand.
Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.minneapolisunions.org
|
| A group of about 50 striking Fabcon workers posed for a photo for House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. |
Related article
Laborers strike Savage manufacturing plant