Posted on 08/23/2009 3:10:52 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Union workers at Mercury Marine put their jobs at risk Sunday when they rejected a package of wage and benefit concessions the boat engine maker said it needed or it would move their work to a nonunion plant in Oklahoma.
Union leaders did not immediately release Sunday's tally but said the vote was "overwhelming" to reject what the company called its final offer.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 1947, represents 850 workers at Mercury Marine, the largest employer in the eastern Wisconsin city of Fond du Lac and the world's largest manufacturer of boat and recreational marine engines.
Mercury Marine issued a statement after the vote saying it will move many of its Fond du Lac manufacturing operations to its facility in Stillwater, Okla., over the next two to three years. The company said it would continue to operate the Fond du Lac facility for now under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, which expires in 2012.
"This has been a very difficult and stressful process for all involved," Mark Schwabero, president of Mercury Marine, said in a statement. "We will work closely with our team in Fond du Lac to develop and communicate a transition plan for this 24-36 month process."
Mercury Marine spokesman Steve Fleming had said last week that if the offer was rejected, the union and company could resume talks and hold another vote this coming Saturday, but its offer would not change.
Local 1947 President Mark Zillges said Friday there would be no further negotiations. He did not immediately return a phone call Sunday seeking comment.
Fond du Lac city manager Thomas Herre called the vote "a huge disappointment."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
>>>Or have they quit and therefore forfeited unemployment?
With the ‘Rats running WI - no, they have not - they will get full unemployment benefits.
Yes.
I do wonder, however, who counted the votes.
Was it really "overwhelming"? I know that back in my union days (closed shop), a good 30% of the membership was primarily anti-union but had to join to be employed.
It’s Milwaukee and Madison, the rest of the state if pretty conservative. I live in Washington County, the most conservative county in the state. Most of us aren’t on the government dole or work for government, but those two counties ruin our state. Just like the rest of the lib states around the country. What a joke Dane and Milwaukee counties have made our state.
The path is pretty clear.
You can lay down and die like GM and Chrysler, or follow the Caterpillar route and play to win.
The unions, but only because they have such a head start...
Ha, what a joke, York or Wisconsin. Bad or badder.
For high unemployment states (that is most of them) you get 79 weeks of unemployment benefits and it will probably get extended to 92 weeks.
I say you are stupid to work if they pay you not to work for nearly 2 years. Why be stupid and work ?
You are practically a chump for working.
Could someone explain Card Check to me—what it is and how it works? thanks.
Thought was floating in my head also. thanks for putting visual to it.
Briggs and Stratton moved their operations elsewhere, didn’t they? I’m sure that’s only one example.
Atlas Shrugs in Wisconsin.
There are 2000+ people working at the plant, 850 or so are union and THEY determined the fate of the company. If 426 voted yes, the plant moves. What a colossal joke. Now consider all the suppliers, restaurants, businesses, homes, families, etc in a town of about 50K people. Reports are at least 8000 workers will be affected. The surrounding areas are done. It’s finished. And the governor just smiles and says what a great job he’s done for the state. He’s a disaster. Wisconsin is the fed gov just smaller area. We are seeing here what zero is going to do to the country. Hold on, it’s going to be BAD.
The thing is it all comes down to the idiot workers voting for this, not the union bosses. I can’t believe the common sense of the workers themselves here with times like they are, even Dem commie voters. I would love for the ballots to be unsealed to see exactly what the “overwhelming” percentage was.
I don’t trust those union leaders as far as I could throw them.
No the are not. If the concessions are deep enough, you probably make more on unemployment than if you worked and unemployment is likely to be 92 weeks.
Furthermore, the proposed "card check" bill (if passed) will require "binding arbitration" so the arbitor may impose a settlement on Mercury Marine so that they have to stay and they have to pay union wages.
Grew up with Mercury Engines! They are and always were Fantastic! and You knew they were created in Fond du Lac!
Rebuilding one after You had blown it up was always Impressive and those 610+ Needle Bearings had to be put in precisely or it became a blob of aluminum fast:-(
I can’t beleive these Idiots are following the DEMORAT Mantra and they are going to be slopping Mickey D’s Gourmet Burgers at $7.15/hr in a year or two! STUPID MACHINISTS and STUPIDER UNION DEMOGOGERY!! OH YEA! Guys tell Your boy wonder, OBOZO, that You demand card check too.....:-)
GOD BLESS OKLAHOMA and OUR GREAT UNITED STATES!!
Washington county, now there’s an option to moving out of state!
Well, what color are Mercury outboards, hmm?
You might try using some math befor you delude yourself into thinking a Machinist is going to come out ahead on
$1500/month Unemployment. Do You work for the local democrat Congresscritter with those kinds of statements?
Union card holders ought to have “STUPID” tattooed on their foreheads. Being from Michigan, I say turn it into a Right to Work state and the jobs will not be leaving.
Good luck to union cheeseheads, hope you like working at the Scotish restaurant - McDonalds.
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