Local union workers prepare for strike (Steelworkers 884/ Russellville AR)

[struggle4progress]

By Janice Penix
[email protected]

The United Steelworkers of America announced last week that strike preparation sessions would begin at three locations, including the Russellville union shop, Local 884, which represents the Bridgestone/Firestone plant on East Main Street. <snip>

“In negotiations, the company still resists our demands that it grow and invest in our plants in order to secure the future of our plants and increase their share of new and higher margin prices,” John Sellers, USWA executive vice president, stated in a press release.
“There’s no way that our members will accept a contract that allows to export our jobs and replace our production with imports and goods produced at non-union plants.” <snip>

USWA-represented employees at BFS have been working under a day-to-day extension agreement since the original April 23, 2003 cotnract expiration date. Either side can terminate the extension by issuing a five-day notice, according to the USWA Web site. <snip>

Other union-represented groups who have begun strike preparations include Des Moines, Iowa and LaVergne, Tenn. <snip>

http://www.couriernews.com/story.asp?ID=8210

[leetrisck]

1. Hang in Russellville - it will

be a tough road there.