BY DANNY BOOHER AND TONY LANE
HUNTINGTON, West Virginia - Workers at Inco Alloys
ratified a new contract here February 24 after a determined
strike. Inco Alloys is the largest employer in town. The 840
workers are members of United Steelworkers of America (USWA)
Local 40.
According to strike captain Bob Adkins, "We had 688 people who voted on the contract. Twelve voted no. We were able to get supplemental pension guarantees and a successorship clause in case the plant was sold again. We won that foreman can no longer work production in the plant, and we won guidelines on how overtime is administered. We had 30 to 40 workers who were fired for strike related incidents. All were given amnesty and brought back into the plant." Adkins added that during the 10- week strike, "not one person crossed our picket line." According to Adkins the company and union agreed that 500 of the workers would be brought back immediately and the rest would be back in the plant in 30 days.
In a March 16 phone interview, Randy Moore, vice president of USWA Local 40, said the company has laid off 179 workers at the plant since signing the contract. "We believe the layoffs are connected to the strike because of our unsettled unemployment claims," he said. "The company is trying to show that they lost orders during the strike and if that can be proved, our claims could be denied and the company would not have to pay their share. The first hearing on our unsettled claims was canceled. The hearing was rescheduled for May 17."
The strike began on December 12. The central issues were contractual guarantees on the workers' retirement pensions and outsourcing of work. According to Moore the company had refused to put these issues in the contract. The company also refused to guarantee in writing union recognition if the plant was sold. Other issues in the strike were medical deductibles, safety and health issues, and the disciplinary policy.
The company carried out limited production with office staff and supervisors.
Inco Alloys is a producer of nickel alloys used in auto parts, household appliances, and industrial equipment. The company was recently purchased by Special Metals Corp. for $365 million and many workers there suspect the company may be sold again.
Harassment and arrests
During the 10-week strike the local union had to contend
with the cops, courts, and company hired thugs. Inco hired
guards from the Property Protection Agency. Pickets said they
harassed strikers, shining large spotlights directly on the
picket line and videotaping strikers and their supporters.
On February 1 company security guards took things further. Adkins told the Militant at the time, "Six of the company guards came out and stood face to face with our pickets. They brushed up against us and tried to provoke us into a confrontation. When the scab trucks crossed the picket line they'd go back inside. When another scab truck came up to the gate they'd repeat the same thing." The scab trucking firm is operated by Werner Enterprises.
More than 50 strikers showed up the next day at the Elm Street gate where the harassment was taking place. Seven police cruisers from Huntington were dispatched to the gate after alleged reports that the pickets had thrown rocks at the trucks. When the strikers challenged this report and asked the cops why they were not stopping the Werner trucks running the stop signs, the cops arrested one of the pickets. Striker Garret Mayo related, "I told the police, `They have no right to do that.' The arresting officer let go of the picketer and came over to me. The cop then said to me, `It's over,' and I said, `No it ain't.' The cops then grabbed me, threw me over the hood of their car and handcuffed me. I was arrested, taken to jail and charged with disorderly conduct."
Later that day Michael Childers, 22, was hit by one of the Werner trucks while walking picket at the Elm Street gate. Adkins said, "The driver swerved to hit him. Everybody saw it happen.... The company used intimidation tactics to get us to react. The company wanted to get an injunction."
The truck driver was arrested later that day for leaving the scene of an accident.
On February 4 a Cabell County court judge slapped an injunction on the strikers limiting the pickets to seven per gate.
Solidarity and support in the strike
The strike at Inco was one of several labor battles in the
Ohio Valley region. These battles include the recent victory
by Steelworkers members after a 22-month strike against MSI in
Marietta, Ohio, and the ongoing 25-month strike by rubber
workers at Monarch Rubber in Spencer, West Virginia.
Another strike that is having an impact on the region is the strike by 500 Steelworkers at RMI Titanium in Niles, Ohio. They have called for another solidarity rally for their strike for 12 noon on March 28 in Niles. Letters and leaflets have been sent out regionally to USWA locals and other unions for all to come to Niles to support their strike. Local 2155 at RMI sent out a February 25 letter to "fellow union members" announcing the March 28 rally and calling on "all fellow unions to show solidarity." The letter also asks for "any support you can give us and our food bank." A feature of rallies like the one called for in Niles has been the growing number of unionists and others who are involved in contract fights, strikes, and other protests coming to show support and explain the fights they are involved in.
"When the Local 1199 Cabell Huntington Hospital workers went on strike in September, 50 of our members marched up to show support and walk picket," said Adkins. Another striker pointed out that 20 Local 40 members went to an MSI rally last year.
"We received checks for $1,000 each from the USWA in Ravenswood and Local 37 at Steel of West Virginia. Both have contracts coming up. They're going to face the same thing we did," Adkins said. "We got financial support and donations to our food pantry from many area unions and individuals."
There were two support rallies during the strike. One held in a vacant lot near the main gate of the plant drew 500 strikers, their families, and supporters. The other was sponsored by USWA Local 37 at its union hall in Huntington, and was attended by several hundred strikers and supporters.
Angela Wolford has worked at the plant for three years. She told the Militant, "We had gotten a lot of support from the community. Part of your responsibility is to support this fight. They were out to hurt this union. I am a single mom. If we didn't take a stand now, we would lose everything. People need to know that when we are out on strike, we have to help each other."
The local had a strike fund that it used to help the strikers meet some of their basic monthly expenses. They also had a well stocked food pantry where they served hot meals and dispensed donated groceries for the strikers. The food pantry was operated by the Women's Support Group.
Danny Booher and Tony Lane are members of the USWA in Pittsburgh.