Moncure Plywood strike over

[Patty52]

Looks like the strike is actually over. It also looks like the plant is on rocky ground and may close, or at least downsize.

Strike ends amid economic uncertainty
Few sure of jobs at Moncure plant
By Kristin Collins - Staff Writer
Published: Thu, Apr. 02, 2009 02:00AM

Workers at a Chatham County plywood plant will begin going back to work next week after eight months on the picket line.

The striking workers at Moncure Plywood agreed Monday night to a new three-year contract with the company, winning many of the concessions they had sought, including shorter workweeks, lower health insurance premiums and seniority rights.

But their victory was bittersweet because, in the midst of economic crisis, only 25 of about 110 strikers are guaranteed to get their jobs back. Workers and union officials fear the plant will soon go out of business.

 "Maybe it's not the victory people had hoped for, but it's a victory," said Charles Raines, 59, who worked 40 years in the plant before going on strike last summer.

Company officials say 106 workers remain in the plant, which makes high-quality plywood used mostly in furniture. That's down from more than 200 when the strike began, and 143 just five weeks ago.

Sales manager Jeff Matuszak said the company is in the "most challenging economic environment we've ever faced" but does not intend to close its doors.

Union representatives said that regardless of what happens, the new contract represents a step forward for worker rights. They said it showed that, even in the worst of times, employees can stand up against unreasonable demands from their employers.

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1468029.html

[Silk_Hope]

Does that suprise you? Now the workers don't have jobs. In a tough economy they should have hung in there and quit when they could find a better job. I have no sympathy for them.

[snowcamper]

The remaining workers got "many of the concessions they had sought, including shorter workweeks, lower health insurance premiums and seniority rights." and "only 25 of about 110 strikers are guaranteed to get their jobs back. Workers and union officials fear the plant will soon go out of business.?

That's not a victory by any stretch, and is typical of the problem that Unions present.

Unions do not protect jobs, income, or anything else.  They simply take funds from their members for their own benefit.

The "average" worker is no better off because of this.  They're actually worse off due to all of the lost wages.  All 110 paid their dues and the vast majority of them are getting the shaft, maybe all of them.

Why can't the left see this?

From the auto companies, to the steel industry, to the mills...  it's the same story over and over again.

How stupid and how sad for the folks who are misled.

Now all we need is a "free choice act" to give us even more Union Victims, not "victories".

[Silk_Hope]

We are in a Right To Work State, the Union can not truly protect the worker.

[snowcamper]

Michigan isn't a right to work, nor is Ohio, Indiana, or Pennsylvania, and the Unions there have done an equally poor job protecting jobs.

Economics can't be overcome by government, no matter how hard they wish.

[wolfpat]

The union guys are lying. The final settlement isn't as good as it would have been if the union had accepted the company's offer last July.

Most of the union workers will likely be fired pretty soon anyway because they won't be able to do as well as the replacement workers have been doing.  Many changes have been made to the machinery while they've been hamming it up outside the gate, changes they won't like (more work, but better quality wood).

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