New Prague workers to protest at Cleveland shareholders meeting

Members of United Steelworkers of America Local 9454, employed at Chart Industries in New Prague, Minn., will protest at the company’s shareholders meeting Thursday in Cleveland.

‘So far, we’ve met with the company 17 times and are no closer to an agreement’ on a new contract, said Tara Widner, USWA staff representative. She said members of the local would finish work Wednesday and drive through the night to demonstrate outside the shareholders meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Forum Conference Center in Cleveland.

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Local 9454 represents 250 workers at the New Prague and Lonsdale plants, which manufacture storage tanks for a variety of biomedical, industrial and commercial uses. Some 400 people were employed at Minnesota Valley Engineering in 1997 when they voted for union representation. Since then, the company was bought by Chart Industries and more than 100 workers have been laid off.

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It took two years and 50 bargaining sessions to get the first union contract for the workers, Widner said. The union survived a decertification effort in February of this year and began negotiations on a second contract with the hope of making some improvements, while being mindful of the company’s financial difficulties, she said.

‘Retirement is probably our No. 1 issue,’ Widner noted. ‘Currently as it stands, the company can do away with the pension or 401(k) without notifying the union.’ In addition to some modest wage and benefit improvements, the workers are seeking changes in contract language that would not cost the company any money, she said.

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Thursday’s demonstration will mark the first contact by the workers with shareholders. Local 9454 members will be joined by Steelworkers and other union members and supporters from the Cleveland area. Following the protest, union members will attend the shareholders meeting and speak on their concerns.

Chart Industries is the world’s leading manufacturer of cyrogenic products and has plants across the United States and in several countries, including China and the Czech Republic.

For more information

On the USWA: www.uswa.org

On Chart Industries: www.chart-ind.com

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