Plant Workers Choose IUE-CWA, Reject Misinformation About Merger

In a campaign fought on the shop floor, IUE-CWA Local 717 emerged victorious in a National Labor Relations Board election at Lexington Connectors in Vienna, Ohio, despite company efforts to confuse employees about the IUE-CWA merger. The vote on March 15 was 99-90 for a unit of more than 200 workers.

“It was a good victory,” said IUE District 7 Vice President Michael Bindas, proud that the local organizing committee stuck with the plant workers, following their first attempt to organize two years ago. Bindas said he anticipates the new unit will have a contract within a couple of months.

While the union encourages CWA and IUE-CWA locals to work together on organizing campaigns, CWA District 4 Vice President Jeff Rechenbach acknowledged, “This win is all theirs.” He congratulated the IUE-CWA staff and local organizers for their effort. IUE Districts 7 and 8 overlap CWA District 4.

IUE-CWA Assistant Organizing Director Sonny Morgan, who is assigned to IUE-CWA District 7, coordinated local efforts, IUE-CWA Organizing Director Gary Wise reported.

Lexington Connectors is a supplier for the Packard Electric Division of Delphi Automotive Systems, which operates around the clock. Morgan said the local’s organizing committee of Bob Grey, Buzz Currie, Roger Van Gilder and Organizer Roger Fackety worked with Shop Chairman Bob Sutton to build an in-plant committee of about 15 people on each of three shifts.

“The people in the plant did a wonderful job,” Morgan said.

The company projected anti-union messages on a TV screen set up in the lunchroom, Morgan explained. “They used the merger with CWA to confuse the workers, tried to discredit the CWA dues structure and said IUE was going broke.”

On the day of the election Local President Mick Border and Sutton corrected misinformation and answered workers’ questions, Morgan said.