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Ball Players Back New Era Workers in Fight to Save Jobs
Decimated by layoffs yet determined to win a fair contract, more than 250 members and supporters of CWA Local 14177 conducted a spirited rally in front of the New Era Cap Co.'s Derby, N.Y., headquarters on Feb. 16. Scores of members from other CWA locals and AFL-CIO affiliates joined in the rally, part of a growing mobilization to keep union manufacturing jobs in western New York that has also drawn support from the Major League Baseball Players Association.
New Era is the official cap maker for Major League Baseball. The company manufactures team caps for both the American and National leagues, as well as caps for other professional, scholastic and amateur sports.
"We were shocked and dismayed to learn that your company, which manufactures the caps that our members wear on the field, has decided to lay off some 130 of your workers, and that further, drastic layoffs are planned in the near future," Association President Donald Fehr wrote to New Era CEO David Koch. "These layoffs do not appear to be the result of any downturn in your overall business, but on the contrary, appear to be simply an effort to shift work from unionized workers in your Derby, N.Y., facility, who produce high-quality caps, to nonunion plants in Alabama and overseas to China and Bangladesh."
Fehr also pointed out that CWA has filed numerous unfair labor practice charges against the company for wrongful firings and suspensions and unilateral attempts to change rates of pay. "For years, Major League players have been proud to wear high-quality, American-made, union label caps and to lend our 'Player's Choice' trademark to New Era caps produced under licenses from our Group Licensing Program. Under these circumstances, however, we may reassess that judgment."
Local 14177 President Jane Howald vowed to continue to press forward in ongoing negotiations and to do "whatever it takes" to win a fair contract. Major issues besides job security are wages, health care benefits and pensions.
The rally was the latest effort in an escalating campaign by the local. Since early December members have worn red shirts or black shirts to work on particular days as a sign of solidarity. They and members of other AFL-CIO affiliates have bombarded New Era with faxes, e-mails and phone calls urging the company to do the right thing and keep the jobs in Derby.
They have leafleted malls, grocery stores and local businesses to inform the community of their plight, conducted informational picketing and given newspaper, radio and TV interviews.
Bargaining continues, assisted by Hunter Phillips, administrative assistant to CWA Vice President Bill Boarman, of the union's printing sector, and Sector Representative Dan Wasser.
New Era is the official cap maker for Major League Baseball. The company manufactures team caps for both the American and National leagues, as well as caps for other professional, scholastic and amateur sports.
"We were shocked and dismayed to learn that your company, which manufactures the caps that our members wear on the field, has decided to lay off some 130 of your workers, and that further, drastic layoffs are planned in the near future," Association President Donald Fehr wrote to New Era CEO David Koch. "These layoffs do not appear to be the result of any downturn in your overall business, but on the contrary, appear to be simply an effort to shift work from unionized workers in your Derby, N.Y., facility, who produce high-quality caps, to nonunion plants in Alabama and overseas to China and Bangladesh."
Fehr also pointed out that CWA has filed numerous unfair labor practice charges against the company for wrongful firings and suspensions and unilateral attempts to change rates of pay. "For years, Major League players have been proud to wear high-quality, American-made, union label caps and to lend our 'Player's Choice' trademark to New Era caps produced under licenses from our Group Licensing Program. Under these circumstances, however, we may reassess that judgment."
Local 14177 President Jane Howald vowed to continue to press forward in ongoing negotiations and to do "whatever it takes" to win a fair contract. Major issues besides job security are wages, health care benefits and pensions.
The rally was the latest effort in an escalating campaign by the local. Since early December members have worn red shirts or black shirts to work on particular days as a sign of solidarity. They and members of other AFL-CIO affiliates have bombarded New Era with faxes, e-mails and phone calls urging the company to do the right thing and keep the jobs in Derby.
They have leafleted malls, grocery stores and local businesses to inform the community of their plight, conducted informational picketing and given newspaper, radio and TV interviews.
Bargaining continues, assisted by Hunter Phillips, administrative assistant to CWA Vice President Bill Boarman, of the union's printing sector, and Sector Representative Dan Wasser.