National

United Steel Workers’ Gerard Urges Caterpillar to Resume Negotiations


PITTSBURGH–(ENEWSPF)–May 1, 2013.  United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard today called upon Caterpillar management to resume good faith negotiations with Local 1343 on behalf of 803 workers at the company’s South Milwaukee plant after workers soundly rejected a proposed 6-year labor agreement in a vote yesterday.
 
Gerard said that the USW is ready to resume bargaining immediately and encouraged negotiators on both sides to find creative solutions and reasonable compromises to resolve issues at the table.
 
“Steelworkers in South Milwaukee have earned and deserve a fair contract that preserves these family and community-sustaining middle class jobs for the long term,” Gerard said. “We also understand that a strong, healthy company means more security for our employment, earnings and benefits.”
 
Rather than strike, members of USW Local 1343 continue to work under the terms and conditions of the contract that expired today while negotiations with Caterpillar proceed.
 
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.

Source: usw.org

 


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