NEW CASTLE Strike continues at Universal-Rundle plants

Negotiations broke down Oct. 10.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- With one child in college and another graduating from high school, Diana Keeley can't afford to be out of work.
But she says she can't afford to work with the contract offered by her employer Universal-Rundle.
Keeley, who has worked for the company for 281/2 years, and other employees contend that the wage, health and retirement packages are unsatisfactory.
"We are not making enough for the economy. Everything is going up, but our wages," she said.
The strike by Universal-Rundle employees enters its third day. Company officials say they are making plans to advertise for replacement workers.
Steve Golimowski, operations manager, said company officials are looking at placing newspaper advertisements in this weekend's newspapers to replace those on strike at its three plants in New Castle, Pa.; Ottumwa, Iowa; and Union Point, Ga.
Walked off the job
Production and maintenance workers, who make prefabricated bathtub and shower units, walked off the job when their previous contract expired at midnight Tuesday.
Production at all three plants has continued, but on a much lower level, he said. Golimowski noted that some workers who are not union members are still working in Georgia, a right-to-work state that allows employees to not join unions.
The New Castle plant has the largest number of workers with a little more than 100 people. The others have between 40 and 50 workers, company officials say.
Talks broke down
Negotiations for one contract that would cover all three plants broke down Oct. 10 after about two weeks of negotiations. The employees are represented by the Glass Molders, Pottery, Plastics & amp; Allied Workers International Union.
Company and union officials say they want to keep talking, but have not.
"We are willing and attempting to speak to them," said Richard Kline, director of communications for the GMP International Union.
Golimowski contends the union has not answered a letter from the company asking for more negotiation sessions. He said the company is unsure why negotiations ended.
"We don't have an understanding of why they walked out. We made them an offer and they walked out. If they don't talk to us, then we don't know," he said.
Kline said the company is aware of the union's issues. Problems stem from wages, health and retirement benefits and the length of the contract, he said.
Kline added that the company also is trying to increase the amount of work done by employees without commensurate pay.
Some details
Golimowski said the company offered increases over a four-year period. Workers would receive a $200 bonus in the first year, a 15-cent-per-hour increase the second year, a $200 bonus the third year and a 15-cent-per-hour increase the fourth year.
The workers said they were told the contract was for six years, and there would be no pay increases in the last two years of the agreement.
A release issued by the company said it has suffered large losses in the past two years.
Universal-Rundle was bought four years ago by Crane Plumbing's Bathing Systems Division. This is the second contract the company has negotiated with the union since 1998.
Golimowski said workers make an average of $10 an hour at all three plants.
The workers in New Castle say the strike has been peaceful, with many trucks refusing to cross the picket line into the Cherry Street Extension plant.