American Standard strike ends; workers take pay, pension cuts

The union plans to file an unfair-labor-practice complaint.

STAFF REPORT

SALEM — Operations at American Standard here will return to normal next week after the end of a strike by 340 union workers.

Members of United Steelworkers Local 1538 voted Friday to end the five-week-long walkout at the company that manufactures bath and kitchen fixtures.

Joe Holcomb, a United Steelworkers staff representative who has been working with Local 1538, said the workers will go back to work Monday under the contract proposed — and not changed — by the company.

Under the company’s proposal, concessions include workers’ taking a 5 percent cut in pay and a 25 percent cut in the company’s contribution to workers’ 401(k) retirement programs.

The union, however, will continue to try to get unemployment benefits that the workers were denied.

Holcomb said the hearing officer who handled the unemployment case based his denial ruling on criteria for companies that were going under. American Standard is not.

The union also will pursue an unfair-labor complaint with the National Labor Relations Board. Union officials have said the company presented its proposal and refused to bargain.

“All employees should return to work to the job and on the shift they worked before the strike began,” the company said in a prepared response.

“We will be calling the third-shift maintenance crew for normal Sunday night fire watch and operation startup for Monday morning. All employees will be working eight- or 81‚Ñ2-hour shifts with normal start times,” the company said.

“We’re very pleased that employees are returning to work so that we can get on with the business of taking care of our customers and ensuring the Salem plant achieves a competitive position, and so that together we can position Salem for a long-term future,” the company said.