The Rhodia plant produces a variety of potentially hazardous fire-retardant and pharmaceutical chemicals. Stressing the importance of safety, several pickets pointed to an explosion at the facility in 1991, when it was owned by Albright & Wilson. Nine workers died in that blast. In the 10 years since that disaster, "things have gone downhill," said USWA Local 863 president Donald Hutchinson. The company has instituted 12-hour shifts and is now pushing for mandatory cross-training that workers expect will lead to unsafe job combinations.

In its contract proposal Rhodia also demanded that the bosses be able to schedule at will 40 hours of each worker's vacation each year. This is on top of cutting workers' sick days from three to one. "That's my vacation time for my family," Smith emphasized.

None of the hourly workers has crossed the union's round-the-clock picket line, Smith said. The company continues to run production with managers and salaried personnel. Since August 17 they have hired private security guards who videotape the picket line. A line across the driveway marking the company's property is new, as is a "No trespassing" sign.

Cars honk as they pass the picket line in an industrial area a few miles from the port in downtown Charleston. In addition to hand-lettered picket signs, several bright yellow placards reading, "Free the Charleston Five," are posted along the driveway leading to the plant. Smith said members of USWA Local 863 have been active in supporting five members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) who are facing frame-up "riot" charges for their participation in a January 2000 mass picket line. Many of the Rhodia workers took part in a June 9 rally in Columbia, South Carolina, to demand the charges against the Charleston Five be dropped.

"Members of the ILA, and everyone in the unions in this area, have been very friendly--dropping by and bringing water and soda for the picket line," Smith said. Students have come to the line as well.

Dozens of USWA members and supporters beefed up the picket line September 3 for a Labor Day visit by AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer Richard Trumpka. The week before the workers held a community rally at the picket line.

Naomi Craine is a member of Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees Local 1501.  
 
 
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