At a meeting here the more than 250 members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) assessed a contract proposal that offered raises of 4 percent the first year and 3 percent each of the next two, plus a $1,000 signing bonus. On the other hand, it included significantly higher medical insurance co-payments and a provision allowing Johnson Matthey to introduce a voluntary 12-hour schedule on a production line at the Devon catalytic converter plant.

Darien Washington, from the West Whiteland plant, explained why the 12-hour schedule was such a critical issue. "They tried to split us up and just introduce it as 'voluntary' in one plant," he said. "But once they get the foot in the door on this 12-hour schedule, they will have it everywhere before long."

Gary Coldonato, a flex line operator at Devon, said, "Management has been threatening us with this schedule since the last contract. They tried to start it last year when they set up the new production line. Everyone I talked to in the plant said the 12-hour schedule was a strike issue, and the company still put it in."

Bob Dyson, president of the USWA unit at the Devon plant, reported that the vote was more than 200 against and 18 in favor of the contract proposal.

On the morning of November 6, about 70 workers were at the four gates of the Devon plant. They hadn't seen anyone go in who might be running the production lines, and the scrubber exhausts were all clean, which happens only when the production lines are down. The pickets were especially happy that a Teamster driver from the trucking firm used by Johnson Matthey had blocked the driveway to the truck dock with his vehicle, declaring that nothing would move from that dock. At the West Whiteland plant the pickets stopped the first armored truck bringing precious metals used in the production process.

Strikers appeared confident, and believed the company was vulnerable. Jeff Wertz, an electrician from the Devon plant, explained that Johnson Matthey is the sole supplier of catalytic converters to the Chrysler division of Daimler-Chrysler. Wertz said he believed Johnson Matthey is worried that Daimler-Chrysler is looking for a reason to break this contract between the two companies, and that supply disruptions because of a strike could be that reason. This might put some pressure on Johnson Matthey to settle, the unionist said.  
 
 
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