"The solidarity has been great so far. We have to remain strong," said striker Tito Morales on the picket line. The workers are members of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 168.

UAW members from other plants, Steelworkers, and members of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees joined the action. Speaking at the rally, Local 168 president Robert Cunha said, "We're here and we'll be here as long as we have to." Don Boehner, representing a UAW local at a nearby plant, also spoke. "Business is making more profits and we're seeing less and less of it." He stated, "We're going to fight together and we're going to win." Several members of New Bedford's City Council were also present.

The contract proposed by the company would freeze wages for the first two years of a three-year contract, with the issue to be reopened in the final year.

The guaranteed pension, which only senior workers receive, would be frozen at the current level, with no increase for additional years of employment. Workers hired in the last few years receive no guaranteed pension, only a 401(k) investment fund with both worker and company contributions.

For the first time, workers would pay $10- $25 a week for medical insurance, and would be responsible for one third of any future increases in insurance costs. The company says this would save $500,000 per year.

Tonnage and vacation bonuses would be ended. The company also demanded a workweek of four 10-hour days, with provisions of adding weekend shifts of three 12-hour days. This would enable the bosses to run the plant seven days per week without paying weekend premium rates.

As a sweetener designed to get newer workers to approve the contract, Revere offered to increase entry level wages to $10 an hour. The two-tier wage scale previously in effect started new hires at $7.26 an hour, with a 19-month climb to full scale, which for most jobs is in the $11-12 range.

The divide-and rule ruse did not work. The UAW members rejected the proposed contract by a 56-18 vote and set up picket lines a few hours later. No further negotiations have been scheduled. Although management personnel are trying to run production machinery, pickets report not one worker has crossed the line.

Martin Boyers is a member of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees and recently a member of UAW Local 168 at Revere Copper.  
 
 
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