Since then, the St. Paul workers have maintained a 24-hour picket line at the Rexam facility, located at 139 Eva St. in the city\'s West Side neighborhood. It is the first time employees at the plant have gone on strike in more than 20 years.
A master agreement between the USW and Rexam that covered employees in St. Paul and seven other cities expired Feb. 24. Initially, as management and representatives of the USW continued to negotiate, Rexam employees agreed to work under a contract extension.
But USW members twice rejected Rexam\'s contract proposals in secret-ballot votes, most recently on April 4. That vote led to the decision to strike April 10.
According to Fred Redmond, USW international vice president and chief negotiator for the Rexam employees, the union made a counter-offer after the April 4 vote, and it reflected membership\'s top contract priorities – namely health care.
"The members have been emphatic in telling us that health care is too costly for both active employees and future retirees, and the company has not done enough to meaningfully address their concerns," Redmond said.
When management refused to consider the union\'s counter-proposal, Rexam workers walked out.
Local 7796 President Mickey Webbe called Rexam\'s contract proposals unpalatable.
"Our members in St. Paul, along with USW members across the country, have been forced to take this stand to fight against the unfair labor practices and the rising health care costs for members and retirees, along with a proposed two-tier wage for new employees," Webbe said.
Meanwhile, the USW has filed several complaints of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board. The complaints allege conduct that "has undermined the bargaining process and has made it impossible to get a fair settlement," Webbe said.
The distinction is important because, in declaring an unfair-labor-practices strike, USW members have ensured that Rexam may not hire permanent replacements – only temporary ones.
Still, it\'s little comfort to the men and women left watching non-union workers operate their facility.
"It has been a hard struggle," admitted Webbe, who left town to take part in negotiations with Rexam earlier this week. "We are reaching out to our union brothers and sisters to ask for any help (they) can provide us."
Webbe encouraged supporters to show their solidarity by joining Local 7796 members on the picket line, which is active 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
To make a donation to the local\'s strike fund, make out a check payable to USW Local 7796 Strike and Defense Fund and mail it to Paul Colaizy, financial secretary, at 5298 Cottage Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.
Reprinted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Used by permission. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@stpaulunions.org
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Since then, the St. Paul workers have maintained a 24-hour picket line at the Rexam facility, located at 139 Eva St. in the city\’s West Side neighborhood. It is the first time employees at the plant have gone on strike in more than 20 years.
A master agreement between the USW and Rexam that covered employees in St. Paul and seven other cities expired Feb. 24. Initially, as management and representatives of the USW continued to negotiate, Rexam employees agreed to work under a contract extension.
But USW members twice rejected Rexam\’s contract proposals in secret-ballot votes, most recently on April 4. That vote led to the decision to strike April 10.
According to Fred Redmond, USW international vice president and chief negotiator for the Rexam employees, the union made a counter-offer after the April 4 vote, and it reflected membership\’s top contract priorities – namely health care.
"The members have been emphatic in telling us that health care is too costly for both active employees and future retirees, and the company has not done enough to meaningfully address their concerns," Redmond said.
When management refused to consider the union\’s counter-proposal, Rexam workers walked out.
Local 7796 President Mickey Webbe called Rexam\’s contract proposals unpalatable.
"Our members in St. Paul, along with USW members across the country, have been forced to take this stand to fight against the unfair labor practices and the rising health care costs for members and retirees, along with a proposed two-tier wage for new employees," Webbe said.
Meanwhile, the USW has filed several complaints of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board. The complaints allege conduct that "has undermined the bargaining process and has made it impossible to get a fair settlement," Webbe said.
The distinction is important because, in declaring an unfair-labor-practices strike, USW members have ensured that Rexam may not hire permanent replacements – only temporary ones.
Still, it\’s little comfort to the men and women left watching non-union workers operate their facility.
"It has been a hard struggle," admitted Webbe, who left town to take part in negotiations with Rexam earlier this week. "We are reaching out to our union brothers and sisters to ask for any help (they) can provide us."
Webbe encouraged supporters to show their solidarity by joining Local 7796 members on the picket line, which is active 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
To make a donation to the local\’s strike fund, make out a check payable to USW Local 7796 Strike and Defense Fund and mail it to Paul Colaizy, financial secretary, at 5298 Cottage Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.
Reprinted from The Union Advocate, the official newspaper of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Used by permission. E-mail The Advocate at: advocate@stpaulunions.org
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