UPDATE, from the Fond du Lac Reporter:
While union officials blame Mercury Marine for killing an 11th hour vote that might have kept more than 800 manufacturing jobs in Fond du Lac, many union workers say union leadership did too little, too late.
“Why did the union wait so long to call a vote? They knew last Thursday that there was great interest among members in having a re-vote, so why didn’t they call for a vote on Friday,” said union worker Fred Toth Jr. “The union leaders dragged their feet on the whole thing, and in my opinion, alienated their members.”
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In labor negotiations, there are offers. Union members vote. There are deadlines.
It's total BS for these union workers in Fond du Lac to be whining about rejecting a contract, and then failing to hold a second vote before the deadline expired.
Mercury Marine aren't the bad guys. The union members voted down a contract, had an opportunity to reconsider, and dragged their feet.
They sealed their fate. It was in their hands. They blew it.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A last-minute decision Saturday to have a second vote on a labor contract at Mercury Marine Inc. was effectively killed early Sunday when the company said it would not accept the results of any ballots cast after midnight.
Late Saturday night, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 1947 announced there would be a second vote on the contract proposal that was scheduled to expire at midnight. Voting began at the union hall in Fond du Lac shortly after 10 p.m., was expected to last until midnight and continue on Sunday until 6 p.m.
But early Sunday morning, union officials said a Mercury Marine executive told them the company would not accept any ballots cast after midnight.
Why should Mercury Marine accept ballots cast after the deadline?
That's an unrealistic expectation on the part of the union members. That's not how negotiations work.
...In a statement released at 2:15 a.m. Sunday, Mercury said:
"The IAM conducted a last-minute vote on the original proposal terms and conditions but did not complete the process to a definitive conclusion prior to the expiration of the proposal. As a result, Mercury said it will continue to operate the Fond du Lac facility under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, which expires in 2012. Manufacturing workers in Fond du Lac are represented by the IAM, Local chapter 1947. As previously announced, the company will now begin the transition planning process to its Stillwater, Okla., facility."
Of course, those jobs are going to Stillwater.
The workers had a choice. They made it.
Now they want a do-over?
Forget it.
Why did they wait until the last minute to vote again?
The union screwed up, not Mercury Marine.
In an interview with FOX 6 News, Fred Toth, with Mercury Marine for 15 years, says, "People are changing their minds. They're saying, 'Wait a minute. I didn't understand this. I looked at it wrong. I got hopped up on my emotions.' There's a lot of different feelings out there."
I suppose the reality of being unemployed would cause one to change one's mind.
Congratulations, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Lodge 1947. You voted to send Mercury Marine packing. That was your choice.
Deal with it.
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Read the entire statement from Mercury Marine.
Video, FOX 6 News.
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