After a good deal of drama, Mercury Marine union members voted to accept contract concessions rather than lose their jobs.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Union workers at Mercury Marine Inc. approved a hotly contested package of contract concessions aimed at keeping hundreds of jobs at the outboard-engine factory instead of sending the work to a nonunion plant in Oklahoma.
The concessions were approved in a last-ditch vote Thursday and Friday after more than a week of union infighting over the company's refusal to budge from its demands. Among other things, the company sought a wage freeze and a 30% pay cut for new hires and workers called back from layoffs.
Had the proposal been voted down, the company was threatening to move as many as 850 factory jobs to Stillwater, Okla. Also at risk were about 1,000 jobs at the company's headquarters in Fond du Lac.
...It's a huge sacrifice for the union membership, said Russell Krings, International Association of Machinists District 10 business representative.
"It should not be taken lightly, and we fully expect the company to honor its commitments," Krings said.
As a result of the vote, Mercury will keep its manufacturing in Fond du Lac and will move additional work to the plant from Stillwater, where Mercury employs about 380 people. Over time, the additional work could result in hundreds of more jobs in Fond du Lac - at Stillwater's expense.
Even though some union members aren't happy with the results of the vote, obviously the majority got what they wanted -- to keep their jobs.
It's good news for Fond du Lac.
But Fond du Lac's gain is another community's loss.
From the Stillwater NewsPress:
Mercury Marine says it's packing up and moving its MerCruiser operation north to Wisconsin - apparently along with nearly 400 Stilwater jobs.
On Friday, more than 800 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers who rejected Mercury Marine's proposes wage and benefit concessions less than two weeks ago voted again. When polls closed Friday evening they had agreed to accept the proposal they initially rejected from Mercury Marine management on August 23. As a result of a late hour supplement to clarify communication with workers, the proposal was essentially reopened to allow a revote. The company then extended the ratification deadline from Aug. 29 to Sept. 4. The latest vote took place Thursday and Friday. The union had started and then halted an 11th-hour vote launched just before the Aug. 29 midnight deadline but not completed because Mercury Marine said the vote was too late, that it was moving Fond du Lac jobs to Stillwater. That publicly announced position lasted only hours, though, before the company flip flopped and said the union could vote again.
The company said Friday night the union didn't release vote tallies but said the measure had passed. Now, the company said, Mercury Marine will move its Stilwater interests north over the next two years.
...While some Wisconsin workers rejoice, Stillwater reels from the imminent implications of the vote.
“Disappointed. Hurt,” said 16-year Stillwater plant employee Todd Pierce. “It’s been a major part of my life. I’ve got no voice. This was decided by someone else … (Mercury) tore up my family and my life. That ain’t no way to run a business.”
In disagreement with and numb from the outcome, at times Larry Brown, president of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, spoke with a voice that broke with emotion to about 20 workers gathered at Brannigans at 600 McElroy Rd.
“I don’t think it will be a good decision in the long term for Mercury Marine." Brown said. "It elevated the union to a pedestal they won’t be able to knock them off of. The union will be claiming victory and that they came in on a white horse to save jobs … It’s a good win for them. I am just not happy with how it came about.”
To ease the angst, he bought a round of drinks for the bar.
Brown said the team - from Stillwater economic developers to state lawmakers - to keep Mercury in Stillwater put forth an amazing effort. One team member, Rep, Cory Williams, D-Stillwater, said Thursday he will look into repealing state tax credits the state gave Mercury Marine in legislation he helped get passed this spring.
Meanwhile, the company's nearly 400 Stillwater employees wonder what's next.
What a roller coaster this process has been!
Union members in Wisconsin vote themselves out of their jobs.
People in Stillwater welcome the new jobs that Mercury Marine says will be coming to their city. It's settled. It's a done deal.
Then, with union workers on their knees and Jim Doyle begging for mercy, Mercury gives the Wisconsin employees one more chance.
The majority reverse their votes. NOW, it's settled.
Jobs remain in Wisconsin, but they're leaving Stillwater.
Decisions were made. Promises were made, but not kept.
Let the celebration begin?
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