Union denies new Appleton contract
By Amanda Clegg and Walt Frank
POSTED: January 23, 2008
Article Photos
Advertisement
Mitchell Becker, president of the United Steelworkers of America Local 10-0422, said the employees denied the three-year contract because of seniority rights, job bidding procedure, health care and mandatory overtime, among other negotiations.
The Local 10-0422 represents 370 employees at the mill. The company employs 105 salaried workers, but only hourly employees belong to the union.
The employees’ old contract expired Nov. 17, and they have been working under the old contract.
“If voted down as expected, we will go back to the company and say we voted down the contract and see if they are willing to go back to the negotiating table,” Becker said before the tally. ‘‘We have a federal mediator who will assist. If we don’t feel we are making any headway, we could call for a strike vote. We have no immediate plans to do that. No one wins in a strike; that would be our last recourse.’’
Bill Van Den Brandt, Appleton spokesman, said the company is disappointed the union rejected the offer.
“The company feels that the contract offer includes the total package of wages and benefits that will keep the Spring Mill union employees well-compensated, compared to local and paper mill averages,” he said.
Van Den Brandt said the company is committed to working with the union to reach an agreement.
Appleton became 100 percent employee-owned Nov. 9, 2001, in one of the largest employee buyouts ever.
The Appleton, Wis.-based company employs 3,100 and is the 35th largest majority-employee-owned company in the U.S. based on total company employment.
Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Clegg is at 949-7030; e-mail her at aclegg@altoonamirror.com. Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7647; e-mail him at wfrank@altoonamirror.com.
Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-15 | Post a comment
|
OUTSIDEER
|
|
|---|---|
|
01-31-08 9:01 PM
|
Is Appleton the next Weirton Steele, an employee owned company that went bankrupt! Maybe the time has come to see if any outsiders or the company is interested in buying the company and returning the value to the current stock holders (employees) before there is nothing of value left. On the other hand it would be interesting to see what value the employees would accept to be bought out.
|
|
4theworkingclass
|
|
|
01-28-08 8:27 PM
|
A new bit of information, just filed with the SEC (Securities Exchange Commission). The CEO of this company has just been granted an increase in his 'termination' clause, filed and dated Jan. 2008. Mr. Richards will now get 3 times his base salary and earned bonus if he is terminated or leaves the company for 'good reasons". This was approved by the board of directors he has appointed. Maybe that's why they need to take from the workers.
|
|
Greednomore
|
|
|
01-28-08 7:53 PM
|
2nd part after cut-off. From mid-management on down to the lowest man on the union roster, the employees of Appleton have been lied to, taken advantage of, and robbed of their savings to fill the pockets of the corporate executives. (The CEO's salary and bonus has more than tripled in the last 4-5 years). For the many who support us in our fight, we thank you. To the few who criticize....Please do your homework and base your support on the facts. We are trying not to let what we have fought for be taken from us. We are trying to earn a decent living in a challenging and dangerous environment. We will continue to fight for what is right. Thank You.
|
|
Greednomore
|
|
|
01-28-08 7:44 PM
|
As an employee and stockholder, I am embarrassed that the executives would treat co-owners and co-workers this badly. To be specific, in the 3rd year of their contract offer employees would pay approximately $250/month for a family health care policy with an $8000 out of pocket deductible. This is an average of $916/month. They would be making money on us. This is only a small fraction of the nightmare contract they are trying to shove down our throats. Hardly the world class health care and benefits we were promised when they were begging for our 401K money to buy this company. This is not close to average for the industry as Van Den Brandt says. He is a liar as all of the top executives in this company are. The executives don't care about the employees or the longevity of our company. They only care about how much they can put in their own pockets before they quit. What they are doing to pillage Appleton is at least unethical if not illegal.
|
|
USWBrother
|
|
|
01-27-08 10:27 PM
|
I work at Appleton, and put my retirement up to purchase this company. And to quote a co-worker "I am the worst company I have worked for". Not because of the workers, its management trying to push us down now they have our money. They want to take. take, take. I want to sustain what I have worked for and was told we'd recieve when we bought this company. CentPABravest you know nothing about the Brothers and Sisters of a Union. We fight beside one another, for every worker in this global economy, not just those that choose to join a Union. Thanks for the support.
|
|
Unitedwestand
|
|
|
01-26-08 6:18 PM
|
Corporate America would love it if we all thought like centbravest. Then we could all work at Walmart for $8/hr. while the top 2%(wealthist)keeps 99.8% of the profit. Unions stand up for middle America. They made the middle class. Without their fights in the past, we would be a 2 class society. Is that what America wants???? We say NO!!!!!!!
|
|
4theworkingclass
|
|
|
01-25-08 4:51 PM
|
I'm sure the employees are very thankful to have jobs and they are very willing to work. And yes, "bravest" for 'good' money. I would hire any of them to work for me. They have shown they are willing to fight for what they believe in and unite to attack corporate greed. Sir 'bravest', please take the time to read the entire business section each and every day to see what is happening in America due to the need of the greedy to take from the middle class. And I say to you, please look up the word brave.
|
|
unionblood
|
|
|
01-24-08 10:13 PM
|
to reply to "centpabravest", not that he deserves a response. Obviously you are not a union member so you would not know what that means, or know the pride that comes with belonging. i believe being "employee owned" should speak for itself. employee financed should be the appropriate term. these people were misled into a "deal of a lifetime" promised world class healthcare, and all that is happening is the pockets are lined at executive level. millions of $ in bonuses and it still is not enough. where does it stop. so i shall say to you "senselesspabravest" don't judge a man until you have walked in his shoes, or fought for thr greater good of the group instead of just yourself
|
|
nugcat1234
|
|
|
01-24-08 10:33 AM
|
It is ridiculous that in an employee-owned company the employees have no say in what they work so hard for. Because some extremely selfish corporate wants a bigger paycheck, so many honest and hard working union members must suffer. Some of them do not get paid enough for the dangerous, back-breaking work they do, but they do not complain. All they want is a better life, benefits and seniority... things they have undoubtably earned and continue to earn everyday. Keep fighting for what you deserve and work so hard for Spring Mill Union Members!
|
|
getthefacts
|
|
|
01-23-08 8:24 PM
|
These guys need to fight because if they give in this time, then next contract time the company will just take more away from them. The employees are just trying to make an honest living. They aren't asking for millions of dollars in bonuses. I didn't see in this article where these guys are asking for more money, they just want to keep what they have (seniority and healthcare). It sounds like the big guys are trying to take from the employees so they can have more in their pockets. Fight for what you deserve!!!!!!!!!
|
|
Katsciteach
|
|
|
01-23-08 7:50 PM
|
Union must show solidarity. I think the 355 to 1 vote shows that. Way to go! CentPABravest sounds like he/she would take a job that others fought hard to build and then when it came time for him to fight for what they accomplished he would settle for the least because it comes easy. When managers make millons on "bonuses" they should be fired by the owners. Oh that's right Appleton is EMPLOYEE owned. RIGHT?????
|
|
Rearview
|
|
|
01-23-08 4:36 PM
|
Sorry, I got cut short. It's not about Union greed. It's about human fairness.
|
|
Rearview
|
|
|
01-23-08 4:29 PM
|
If your employer were to cut off one of your fingers a year for 3 years, would you be thankful to have 7 left? Should slaves be thankful they have a job, too? Employees there have "bargained" over the years to gain, or maintain, benefits that made Appleton a good place to work. The "good money" exists due to the efforts of the Union. The benefits and money were not a gift. That Union always bargained. They never intimidated or threatened. They just wanted a share of the wealth. They even made sacrifices in tough times. But how tough could times be now, when the managers are getting bonuses in the millions? This contract offer was designed to significantly erode the pay and benefits over 3 years. For what? Even larger bonuses? Beware of officials claiming that the offer was consistent with the industry average. This is illogical, but sounds good. Employers choose to diminish pay and benefits that lowers the average for everyone. It’s not about Union greed. It’s abou
|
|
carguy
|
|
|
01-23-08 3:52 PM
|
It strikes me as odd that someone who would post the previous comment would have the login he or she does. This company is trying to take away, not keep the same or increase those benefits argued for in the past. I say solidarity for the union.
|
|
CentPABravest
|
|
|
01-23-08 9:10 AM
|
I say be thankful they have jobs. If they strike, replace them with those willing to work for what I am told, good money.
|