Strike ends at Fox Valley Forge; appeal pending

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/563245,2_1_AU19_FVFORGE_S1.article

September 19, 2007
BY ROWENA VERGARA Staff Writer

AURORA -- An unfair labor practices complaint filed by striking workers at Fox Valley Forge here has been dismissed, basically bringing to an end a six-month strike at the metal-forging business.

The National Labor Relations Board last week notified the workers that their complaint had been dismissed, although union representatives said an appeal is pending.

More than 50 employees at the Pierce Street plant, a division of Cleveland Hardware & Forging, have been on strike since March, when the plant's workers walked out after the company did not meet their requirements for a contract.

The workers formed a union, Boilermakers Local 1600, late last year.

It is unclear how many strikers were called back to Fox Valley Forge for work or how many have found jobs or are now unemployed.

But Howard Cole, international representative of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, estimated that about half of the strikers need employment and the other half "have garnered other employment."

FULL story at link.