Bolen is one of the 216 members of the Texas City Metal Trades Council Local 347 who are now locked out of the Sterling Chemical plant in that Gulf Coast city.

"Retirees’ health care and pensions are a big reason for us being out here," added John T. Wright, a Vietnam veteran and material handler in the plant. "The company’s Human Resources man, Wayne Parker, told the union that the problem is the retirees just aren’t dying fast enough. This is totally not acceptable!" The company is demanding a 50 percent hike in retirees’ insurance premiums, an increase of more than $500 a month. Retired workers and their spouses will have to pay more than $600 per month for health insurance, which they say they cannot afford.

While this reporter was talking to the pickets, several retired workers drove up and offered encouragement as well as cold soda and water to the locked-out unionists. An awning set up to provide a little relief from the sun contained an ample supply of food and soft drinks.

Luke Harlen, another picketing material handler, said the company demanded workers carry pagers all the time without compensation and wanted to divide the union over pay scales. "They didn’t want to give 20 of us the same pay as the rest. Up to now," Harlen said, "all the crafts bargained together and are in the same union together and get the same pay. They want to divide us up."

"Equal pay for all the crafts is our tradition here in Texas City," Bolen added.

The company is also pushing safety cutbacks. "See that Astrodome-like thing out there?" Wright continued. "That’s full of ammonia. If that goes it will take Texas City with it. Having the plant run by management like it is now is a real danger. They don’t have either the skills or the experience." This point has particular meaning in Texas City, which was destroyed in 1947 by a series of explosions at the docks, refineries, and chemical plants.

In a statement released June 8, the union spoke out on the company’s disregard for public safety. "The lockout is unfortunate, and also unsafe for the community.... Texas City residents have expressed serious concerns over the company operations in the absence of the union workforce."

The pickets agreed that they planned to stay out until they could all go back in together. "That’s what the union is," Wright explained. "We’re together in this."

"Before the vote, I even took out a loan against my pension fund for this lockout," Harlen added, "We all have to COBRA our health insurance after this month when the company cuts us off. My daughter has diabetes and I have to pay the insurance bill. I don’t mind building up debts on other things, but that’s something she’s just got to have."

The union plans to have a protest action along Palmer Highway in Texas City on Saturday, June 15, to seek support for the locked-out unionists and retirees. Union members and their supporters will be posted on street corners from the highway all the way down to the plant next to the bay, and will talk to motorists and shoppers and get information out about the lockout.

Tom Leonard contributed to this article.  
 
 
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