MII strikers to draw unemployment checks (IL)

[struggle4progress]

BY PAUL AYARS
THE COURIER

Buoyed by a favorable ruling last Friday that they qualify for unemployment benefits, Carpenters Local 644 members have something to cheer about as their strike at MII Inc.'s Lincoln plant nears six months.

"It means we'll get unemployment benefits back to Dec. 5," union steward Troy Poole of Lincoln said Monday. "There's no way to say everybody will get X amount." <snip>

Under the ruling, the company also is responsible for future unemployment benefits for the workers, union business manager Perry Sundell said. <snip>

Mike Fak .., who helped coordinate a benefit for the strikers, says .. the Iowa Supreme Court ruled against Titan Tire Co .. which had refused to negotiate .. after tendering a final offer to its employees. When the union struck, Titan began hiring permanent replacement workers .. discharging the union employees and .. taking away the union's ability to negotiate ... The Iowa judges .. ruled .. such an activity .. an unfair labor practice and .. employees .. eligible for unemployment ... <snip>

http://www.lincolncourier.com/news/05/04/06/e.asp

[Rincewind]

1. Great!!!!

This is great news, I'm a delegate to the Carpenter's Regional Council, and these people are really hurting. Practically the whole town is behind them.

[Krupskaya]

2. Well done, 644!

Stand strong!