The first workers were recalled Nov. 23, the Monday before Thanksgiving, said Greg Sticha, financial secretary-treasurer of Local 63B of the Glass, Molder, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union.
“Before the end of the year, 87 people will be re-employed,” he said. “We hope it will eventually reach 200, but it all depends on the economy.”
Wellman Dynamics, based in Creston, Iowa, purchased the Plymouth-based Progress for an undisclosed sum. Wellman, a subsidiary of the Fansteel Corporation, is a major producer of complex components for helicopters, missiles, rocket engines and jet engines and structural parts for both military and commercial aircraft. The Creston facility is a primary manufacturer of magnesium castings, while Progress produces aluminum castings for aerospace and other customers.
While the sale was being negotiated, the company and union bargained a contract. The pact includes a provision for Wellman to recall all locked-out and laid-off employees before making any new hires.
“We know at least we have some jobs to go to,” said Nick Hill, union shop chairman. “The future is a lot better for us.”
A long year
On Oct. 26, 2008, Progress Casting locked out 160 members of Local 63B. The workers had resisted the company’s attempt to impose cuts to health care and other concessions and sought to continue working under the terms of the contract that had expired the month before. Before locking out most of the employees, the company laid off 50 workers.
For the last year, Progress attempted to continue operations with replacement workers, but both quality and sales flagged in recent months, the union said.
Meanwhile, the locked-out workers struggled to get by, Hill said. Because they were locked out, they have been eligible for unemployment insurance, which helps but doesn’t pay the bills, he said.
Many received assistance through a fund set up by the union, Hill said. “We received thousands of dollars in donations from other unions and individuals.”
The union also connected members with Fare for All, a union-endorsed program that helps people stretch their food dollar.
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In addition, the Obama administration’s passage of a subsidy for COBRA enabled many locked-out workers to maintain their health insurance, Hill said. “That’s the only reason some guys were able to keep it.”Hopeful signs
While negotiating the purchase of Progress Casting, executives at Wellman Dynamics reached out to the union to negotiate a new contract. Wellman President Dave Leitten previously worked at Progress for a number of years and is familiar with both the company and union.
Workers at the Wellman plant in Iowa are represented by two unions – the GMP and the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Hill said workers at Progress are looking forward to a new relationship with management. “When Dave Leitten worked at Progress before, we made money and it was a really good place to work,” he said.
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The three-year agreement reached with Wellman Dynamics was overwhelmingly ratified by Local 63B members, Hill said. “Wages start out a little lower than the Progress contract, but over the term of the contract they will be better,” he said. From the start, take-home pay will be higher for everyone because Wellman is shouldering a larger share of the health insurance costs.
In addition, the new contract preserves important overtime and seniority language, Hill said. It also creates a new bargaining unit classification of production assistant. These workers, as many as 10 in the plant, will earn a higher wage for being responsible for the flow of work and materials, he said.
As workers head back to the plant, they are undergoing orientation, physical exams and drug testing, Sticha noted. In scheduling each worker’s return, the company is being flexible with those who took other jobs or made commitments – such as taking classes – during the lockout, he said.
“It’s going to be a period of transition for a while.”
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Rally puts spotlight on lockout at Plymouth foundry
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The first workers were recalled Nov. 23, the Monday before Thanksgiving, said Greg Sticha, financial secretary-treasurer of Local 63B of the Glass, Molder, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union.
“Before the end of the year, 87 people will be re-employed,” he said. “We hope it will eventually reach 200, but it all depends on the economy.”
Wellman Dynamics, based in Creston, Iowa, purchased the Plymouth-based Progress for an undisclosed sum. Wellman, a subsidiary of the Fansteel Corporation, is a major producer of complex components for helicopters, missiles, rocket engines and jet engines and structural parts for both military and commercial aircraft. The Creston facility is a primary manufacturer of magnesium castings, while Progress produces aluminum castings for aerospace and other customers.
While the sale was being negotiated, the company and union bargained a contract. The pact includes a provision for Wellman to recall all locked-out and laid-off employees before making any new hires.
“We know at least we have some jobs to go to,” said Nick Hill, union shop chairman. “The future is a lot better for us.”
A long year
On Oct. 26, 2008, Progress Casting locked out 160 members of Local 63B. The workers had resisted the company’s attempt to impose cuts to health care and other concessions and sought to continue working under the terms of the contract that had expired the month before. Before locking out most of the employees, the company laid off 50 workers.
For the last year, Progress attempted to continue operations with replacement workers, but both quality and sales flagged in recent months, the union said.
Meanwhile, the locked-out workers struggled to get by, Hill said. Because they were locked out, they have been eligible for unemployment insurance, which helps but doesn’t pay the bills, he said.
Many received assistance through a fund set up by the union, Hill said. “We received thousands of dollars in donations from other unions and individuals.”
The union also connected members with Fare for All, a union-endorsed program that helps people stretch their food dollar.
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In addition, the Obama administration’s passage of a subsidy for COBRA enabled many locked-out workers to maintain their health insurance, Hill said. “That’s the only reason some guys were able to keep it.”
Hopeful signs
While negotiating the purchase of Progress Casting, executives at Wellman Dynamics reached out to the union to negotiate a new contract. Wellman President Dave Leitten previously worked at Progress for a number of years and is familiar with both the company and union.
Workers at the Wellman plant in Iowa are represented by two unions – the GMP and the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Hill said workers at Progress are looking forward to a new relationship with management. “When Dave Leitten worked at Progress before, we made money and it was a really good place to work,” he said.
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The three-year agreement reached with Wellman Dynamics was overwhelmingly ratified by Local 63B members, Hill said. “Wages start out a little lower than the Progress contract, but over the term of the contract they will be better,” he said. From the start, take-home pay will be higher for everyone because Wellman is shouldering a larger share of the health insurance costs.
In addition, the new contract preserves important overtime and seniority language, Hill said. It also creates a new bargaining unit classification of production assistant. These workers, as many as 10 in the plant, will earn a higher wage for being responsible for the flow of work and materials, he said.
As workers head back to the plant, they are undergoing orientation, physical exams and drug testing, Sticha noted. In scheduling each worker’s return, the company is being flexible with those who took other jobs or made commitments – such as taking classes – during the lockout, he said.
“It’s going to be a period of transition for a while.”
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