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 ...
When I pointed out that 60% of the “clunkers” were american brands, and 70% of the cars sold were Hondas and Toyotas, he called me “one of those rightwing nutjobs”.
I would have gotten my "Bronx" up....grabbed my crotch and said....”yeah....I gotcha righwing nutjobs right here you stupid commie rat b@st@rd”
but hey...thats me.
“The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 1947, represents 850 workers at Mercury Marine,”
I wonder how many workers this plant employs, and what percentage managed to kill this company in WI.
They must have one hell of a severance package.
Isn’t GM closing the Janesville plant, too? My college roommate’s father worked there, but I think is retired now....
hh
Locals aren't important to them. They are "casulties of war". The national union offices are rich. How else do you think they can afford to spend hundreds of millions on their political activism?
Lost? Sounds to me like they quit.
How many of you ‘moved to Galt’s Gulch’ and said F the government? Right now, we’re doing everything possible to get the gov off of our backs, guns, gardening, cash for jobs, etc. We will do everything possible to NOT be evolved with Big Government.
Good riddance to the union, BTW. Unions are as bloated and corrupt as the corporations and government offices that they’re in bed with.
They didn’t quit, they voted themselves out of a job.
they voted to not be employed. screw em.
It was closed months ago. December 2008
Same thing from what I can see.
Same page, pathetic libs.
From http://www.airlinesafety.com/Unions/UnionVictoryAtEastern.htm
fwiw-
Tell that to my grandsons. Better yet, say that to my face.
No, they'll Buy Merc stuff made in OK. And in Canada, and where ever else they have plants.
Indy, I don’t know the details, but have you heard anything about WI planning on taxing out-of-state pofits by companies who do business in WI?
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