At stake in the fight is whether union members will have any effective rights through the contract and seniority system to jobs in the plant. One picket told Militant reporters that a large number of women who work at the plant—from plant operators to loaders—were involved in picketing. One of the company’s intentions is to subject all of the workers with 25 years of seniority or less to testing to prove their “competence”—those deemed “incompetent” by the company would be replaced by new hires.

“The company has no right to take these jobs away from us,” said Charles Singleterry, business manager of Operating Engineers Local 564. “Their proposal means no bid rights of any kind—and you’ll have to be the fair-haired child of the company bosses to get a bid job. That’s what the members voted against.”  
 
Workers reject two contract offers
The union members had rejected an earlier contract offer by a two-to-one margin, Singleterry said. The union leadership had recommended a no vote. “The second offer was even a little worse, and yesterday we decided to make no recommendation and let the members decide. They voted ‘no’ by a total of 463-409. We had already decided to strike immediately if the contract was rejected.”

The first picket volunteers were at the gates 30 minutes after the vote count was finished at 11:00 p.m. May 20. Round-the-clock picketing is being organized by union members.

The company had already taken steps to prepare for a strike. Union members reported that the company and salaried employees had been following them around for weeks learning their jobs in preparation for a walkout. Singleterry said that after he informed company officials of the strike vote, management “had the audacity” to request the union hold off on striking for five days after the vote so the salaried operators-to-be could “be given some relief before going on the job.”

The city government has come to the aid of the company. The local newspaper in Brazosport, The Facts, reported that Lake Jackson police chief Paul Hromadka had already announced his “fear” of future picket-line violence, especially if there are solidarity visits by fellow unionists from outside Brazoria County. “The problem we see is when union strikers come in who are not from this area,” he said. County deputy sheriffs are assigned to patrol the plant entrances, and the company has hired a private security company.

One union member objected strongly to the police and company’s violence-baiting. “You put in 25 years,” Mark Westmoreland said, “then the company treats us like we’re terrorists.”

The union local welcomes messages of solidarity and donations of food and funds, picketers said. These can be sent to: IUOE Local 564, 127 Circle Way, Suite A, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566.

Tom Leonard contributed to this article.  
 
 
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