Union workers keep on striking

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ON THE LINE: Workers at American Standard Brands in Salem began to picket about 1 p.m. Friday over proposed cuts the company wants to make.

By D.A. Wilkinson

Standard Brand workers said they’d be fired if they don’t return to work Monday.

SALEM — Workers at American Standard Brands continued to strike after a meeting Friday with a mediator, management and officials of the United Steelworkers of America Local 1538.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson and Mayor Jerry Wolford were also involved. Wolford said earlier this week that he would do what he could if asked to take part.

Workers said the mediator called the meeting, which union president Rick Hands said produced scant results.

Hands said the union offered concessions, including on a wage bonus, but the company would not settle and no new talks were set.

Company officials could not be reached Friday evening.

Workers who began to picket around 1 p.m. Friday said they had been told they would be fired if they do not return to work at 8 a.m. Monday, under the company’s proposal.

Hands said Friday evening after the talks that the threat of firing “was just a rumor going around, and we haven’t been able to substantiate it.” He said workers are encouraged to report for picket duty Monday, but the union cannot force them to do so.

The company had announced it would shut down the plant that makes bathroom fixtures as of 1 p.m. Friday but said it would pay all workers — even those not scheduled to work — for four hours of work on Friday.

Paul Lee, the plant manager, said in a prepared statement: “It is unfortunate that the union has chosen to strike, particularly since the members never had the opportunity to vote on our last, best and final contract proposal.”

Here are details from the company of its proposal, which workers said would cut weekly pays by almost $100:

UA 5 percent wage reduction.

UA company reduction to 401(k) contributions to a 75 percent match instead of a $1 to $1 match.

UBeginning in January, an increase in worker health-care contributions to 25 percent of the premium, with an alternative to enroll in a high-quality, high-deductible plan that provides similar services as the current PPO plan, but with a lower employee contribution.

The contract also includes features that remain the same or have been enhanced from the expiring contract, including: a 3 percent 401(k) contribution, continuation of the current productivity bonus that pays employees per hour increases when the plant achieves productivity targets, an increase in annual pay for safety shoes to $80, a new provision to pay for prescription safety glasses one time in the life of the agreement, and the addition of a profit-sharing plan that pays two levels of lump sums if specified targets are achieved by the plant.

The company has about 340 union workers and about 27 salaried staff.

wilkinson@vindy.com