The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.63/No.10           March 15, 1999 
 
 
Ohio Teamsters Strike Intensifies Unionists Fight Back  

BY TONY PRINCE
RANDOLPH, Ohio - The strike of 400 members of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 24 at East Manufacturing Co. here has intensified, with the arrest of a picket captain, strikers hit by trucks, and rumors that the company may hire strikebreakers. The workers, who produce truck trailers, have been on strike since January 21.

Police arrested Ricky Patterson, a shop steward and strike captain, February 23 as he was picketing in front of a truck leaving the plant.

"Jim Bishop, the personnel director, pointed at me and told the cops, `Get him!' The cops rushed me, they threatened to Mace me, they never read me my rights, and they didn't let me make a phone call," said Patterson. "I was in the jail all day. I was charged with disorderly conduct and possessing a criminal tool because I had nails for making picket signs in my pocket. And my bond, $5,000, is triple the normal bond."

Patterson added, "The cops really surprised me. They used excessive force. They're trying to make an example of me, but they didn't scare me. I did nothing wrong. I've always been involved in the labor movement."

The striker also mentioned that the same truck has hit two pickets as it was entering and leaving the plant.

Other workers on the picket line mentioned they have seen people going into the plant for job interviews, and said the company has advertised for strikebreakers in southern Ohio newspapers. Several of the pickets warned that if the company brings in strikebreakers, "There will be a war."

Tom Sayre, who has 21 years' seniority at the plant, explained the pitfalls in some of the company's proposals. "Their 40-cent raise offer is really only 15 cents, because the insurance coverage from the union has decreased 25 cents," he pointed out.

He was opposed to taking a signing bonus because "the last time we took a signing bonus they took it out of our profit sharing. Plus, every time we see a signing bonus it means they're going to work us to death with overtime. If we got a wage increase, we'd get more money on overtime too. With a signing bonus we don't."

Sayre explained why he thinks the company has such a high turnover rate - 700 workers hired over the last three years. "It takes seven years to get up to the top rate of pay here. A lot of guys start here, get training, and then go over to Mack Trailer in Alliance, Ohio, for at least $1 an hour more. There's no job in here you can't learn in six months. But they're holding top pay from us for seven years. That's a concession we're giving them."

Shane Blair, a striker in his twenties, described the attitude of plant manager Chuck Moore. "He told the negotiating committee he's already broken the contract and he'll continue to do it."

Morale on the picket line remains high. Strikers are planning to rent a bus to go to a trailer show in Kentucky in a few weeks where East will be exhibiting.

Most of the cars driving by on State Route 44 honk in support of the strikers. Telephone workers putting up new lines along the road honored the picket line in front of the plant, and as a result the line remains unconnected.

At the same time, two sheriff's cars were parked at the convenience store at the nearest intersection.

Tony Prince is a member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees in Cleveland.

 
 
 
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