Vol. 81/No. 9 March 6, 2017
Illinois rail car repair workers strike over health costs
“The membership voted down the last company offer” and the strike began Jan. 17, Local 710 Business Agent Michael Ramirez told the Militant. “The owner, who makes all the financial decisions, is not participating in the bargaining. It’s not serious until he is.”
The company’s first contract proposal included demands for a 50 cents per hour wage cut and an increase in workers’ weekly contribution to health insurance from the current 14 percent of gross pay to 19 percent.
“The company came back with what they called their ‘last, best, and final offer,’ abandoning the demand for a wage cut,” Justin Kwarta, a union steward who has worked over 30 years at the plant, said. “But they are insisting on imposing the increase in medical care costs.”
“The insurance is the number one issue,” said Jose Morfin, a welder and forklift driver with 41 years at the plant. “The last time we were on strike was 25 years ago. The issue then was wages, now it’s insurance. The company’s proposal actually amounts to a wage cut.”
The average pay is $19 per hour, Kwarta said.
Strikers have received support from members of the Teamsters, United Auto Workers and other workers in the area. Over 70 religious leaders from around Joliet have announced their support.
A solidarity rally was held by the plant Feb. 9, drawing unionists and others from throughout Joliet and Chicago. The workers marched to the company office, delivering letters from the community backing their strike and demanding the bosses negotiate a fair contract.
A week later the union got a letter from the company saying they were “open to further discussions with the goal of arriving at a new collective bargaining agreement.”
“This goes to show that persistence really does pay off. These members have continued to stand together, showing the same level of solidarity on day 31 as on day one,” said Ramirez.
The Teamster local is raising money to help strikers meet their bills. Make contributions online at https://www.gofundme.com/local-710-railway-strike .
Related articles:
Momentive workers: ‘We’re stronger for fight we waged’
Anti-labor outfit targets union at Momentive
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