http://themilitant.com/2015/7928/792832.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 79/No. 28 August 10, 2015
—ON THE PICKET LINE—
Maggie Trowe, Editor
Help the Militant cover steel, auto and other contract fights!
This column is dedicated to spreading the truth about the labor
resistance that is unfolding today, to give voice to those engaged in
battle and help build solidarity. National steel and auto contracts are
expiring this summer and fall. I invite workers involved in fights
against concessions to contact me at 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New
York, NY 10018; or (212) 244-4899; or themilitant@xxxxxxx.
We’ll work together to ensure your story is told.
— Maggie Trowe
Toronto Steelworkers vote to end 22-month strike against Crown
TORONTO — United Steelworkers Local 9176 members narrowly voted to
approve a new six-year collective agreement with Crown Metal Packaging
July 19. The vote came after a 22-month strike against company demands
for steep concessions. The unionists, who received substantial
solidarity from Steelworkers locals and other unions, pushed back the
company’s union-busting effort to exclude a list of about three dozen
union activists from returning to work and retain strikebreakers, but
lost ground on other issues.
“We’re pleased that the strike’s over,” Lawrence Hay, the lead union
negotiator, told the Toronto Star. “We’re not so pleased with the terms
and conditions.” Referring to Crown’s attack on the union, he said,
“They couldn’t destroy those folks.”
The new contract states that all striking employees may return to their
jobs. It includes enhanced retirement and severance provisions for those
who decide not to go back to work.
Crown, which produces beer cans, pushed through wage cuts and other
takebacks. According to two workers who asked that their names not be
used, the wages for the least skilled workers are cut from around $24 an
hour to $16 and overtime pay rates are reduced. There will be annual pay
increases of around 2 percent over the life of the contract. Crown will
no longer permit a union office in the plant.
The strikers won solidarity from unions in the U.S., Britain, France,
Italy and Turkey. They urged a boycott of canned beer, leafleted at
provincial beer stores and picketed company board meetings.
“I’m not anxious to go out on strike again any time soon but after the
solidarity shown us by other workers I will show my support for others
when they go out on strike,” Sid Butt, who has worked at Crown for more
than 29 years, told the Militant. “I know how important it is and I know
now what they are going through.”
—Tony Di Felice and Toni Gorton
Communications Workers at AT&T in South fight for contract
ATLANTA — Members, retirees and union supporters of the Communications
Workers of America Local 3204 picketed here July 17 in front of the AT&T
Building. “We want a contract” and “Union yes” were among the chants at
the lively picket line of 50 people.
The contract between AT&T and more than 27,000 CWA District 3 members in
eight Southern states and Puerto Rico expires Aug. 8. Issues in dispute
include working conditions, health care and wages. “The rally will be to
show support to our bargaining team and send a strong message to AT&T
that we will not accept cutbacks for our members,” read a message on the
District 3 website calling the action.
Several workers carried handmade signs saying, “It’s our turn.”
“Our members are ready to go on strike if we’ve got to,” Ed Barlow,
Local 3204 president, told the rally
“We don’t want to give back,” said retiree Rita Scott, who worked as a
service technician. “We want a time out for the owners to get wealthy.
We will fight for a contract.”
“It’s our time to get some back,” retiree Gail Hankerson told the Militant.
The bargaining team has rejected the company’s proposals to severely
restrict night differential and to force technicians onto mandatory
standby.
— Janice Lynn
Related articles:
Movement to raise minimum wage gains ground across US
Steel bosses push for steep concessions in contract talks
LA port drivers advance fight for union, wage hike
Verizon workers in 9 states and D.C. authorize strike
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home