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IUE-CWA Local Settles 10-Month Derlan Strike
After more than 10 months on strike at Derlan Precision Gear, IUE-CWA. Local 1199 won a contract that minimizes the impact of layoffs and brings a 16 percent wage increase to remaining members over five years. Derlan purchased the plant near Chicago from Boeing last year and cut jobs from 230 to about 80.
“This was a long, bruising, bare-knuckled, all-out donnybrook,” IUE-CWA President Ed Fire said.
The Derlan members united behind local Business Agent Andrea Stack and President Kevin Bowen. “Not one Local 1199 member crossed the picket line, even after 10 long, painful months,” Fire said.
Stack said that 80 workers returned to their jobs May 3, that 11 more were recalled on May 13 and that additional recalls are expected. Workers who chose voluntary separation will receive $1,000 for each year of seniority up to 15 years and $1,075 for each additional year up to 20 years. About 100 workers accepted buyouts, Stack said, some in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Local 1199 retained strong outsourcing language from its previous contract and contained health care costs for five years under the agreement. In addition, the union won improvements in life insurance, dental and accident and sickness benefits.
Fire said the company’s desire to do away with all outsourcing limitations remained the key issue throughout strenuous negotiations. He praised bargaining committee members Irv Ruhl, Sam Egizio, Robert Hogan, Dirk Streiber and John Williams for enduring months of “frustrating, so-called ‘bargaining sessions.’”
Fire had special praise for IUE District 8 President Bruce Van Ess and headquarters General Counsel Peter Mitchell, who participated in the later stages of bargaining. They were assisted by District 8 Secretary-Treasurer Roger Deel and IUE-CWA Representative Art Mitchell.
“This was a long, bruising, bare-knuckled, all-out donnybrook,” IUE-CWA President Ed Fire said.
The Derlan members united behind local Business Agent Andrea Stack and President Kevin Bowen. “Not one Local 1199 member crossed the picket line, even after 10 long, painful months,” Fire said.
Stack said that 80 workers returned to their jobs May 3, that 11 more were recalled on May 13 and that additional recalls are expected. Workers who chose voluntary separation will receive $1,000 for each year of seniority up to 15 years and $1,075 for each additional year up to 20 years. About 100 workers accepted buyouts, Stack said, some in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Local 1199 retained strong outsourcing language from its previous contract and contained health care costs for five years under the agreement. In addition, the union won improvements in life insurance, dental and accident and sickness benefits.
Fire said the company’s desire to do away with all outsourcing limitations remained the key issue throughout strenuous negotiations. He praised bargaining committee members Irv Ruhl, Sam Egizio, Robert Hogan, Dirk Streiber and John Williams for enduring months of “frustrating, so-called ‘bargaining sessions.’”
Fire had special praise for IUE District 8 President Bruce Van Ess and headquarters General Counsel Peter Mitchell, who participated in the later stages of bargaining. They were assisted by District 8 Secretary-Treasurer Roger Deel and IUE-CWA Representative Art Mitchell.