6/16/2008 1:00:00 AM
We will stay one day longer
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| Locked out United Steel Workers from Kongsberg and their supporters march down Main St. in front of the Van Wert County Courthouse on Saturday. Over 300 people attended a rally and march to show solidarity for the union workers. |
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BY KIRK DOUGAL
Times Bulletin Editor
kdougal@timesbulletin.com
On Saturday afternoon in Fountain Park in Van Wert, a group of locked out workers came together with members of their community, elected officials, and other union representatives in a show of solidarity and support.
A little more than 300 people attended the rally in support of the United Steel Workers union members who have been at a labor negotiations standstill since April 2 when the Kongsberg Automotive officials in Van Wert walked away from the table and locked out the employees. No formal negotiations have occurred since that time and Kongsberg has announced that approximately 200 of the 326 jobs in the Van Wert facility will be moved to the company's factory in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico beginning in July of this year.
Emotions are still running high about how the negotiations ended as was evident when during the course of the speeches, a USW official asked for Peter Spencer, Group Executive and President of Driveline Systems for Kongsberg Automotive, to come out from backstage. A person dressed in a rat suit came on stage to rounds of laughter and thunderous applause.
Despite the light moment, it was a day for serious reflection, not only for the workers in Van Wert but also for those around the country whose jobs are also being threatened with moves to facilities beyond U.S. borders.
"How much longer can the country afford to lose jobs?" asked Aaron Collins, president of USW local in Van Wert. "We grew up in a time when anything seemed to be possible but the American dream just seems to be slipping away."
Collins spoke for more than ten minutes about the view of America from the factory worker's point of view but his was not the only voice heard. Representatives from Senator Sherrod Brown's office talked about the correspondence he has had with the Kongsberg officials and his efforts to draw them back to the negotiation table.
Union officials from around a dozen other USW, UAW and even the local teachers' union joined together to go to the podium and voice their solidarity. Most also brought checks to go to the union fund to help members who were having financial difficulties due to the lock out. More than $10,000 was raised for this cause. Throughout the entire rally ran the call for solidarity to support with the Van Wert members, saying "We will be here one day longer" than their opposition.
USW District 1 Director David McCall talked after the rally about how each labor negotiation is unique and that no one option is going to help keep jobs from leaving to other countries. However, he did have strong words about the tactics used by Kongsberg in Van Wert.
"The National Labor Relations Board Act was passed to promote harmony between employers and employees during negotiations," McCall said. "And 98% of our collective bargaining efforts come to agreements. But their (Kongsberg officials) refusal to share requested information, bargaining in bad faith, and illegal surveillance needs to be addressed. And we are taking the necessary steps to see that enforcement is taken by filing a complaint with the NLRB."
McCall went on to say that they were prepared to go back to the negotiating table whenever Kongsberg was willing and that the USW hoped that an expedited judgment from the NLRB would help them schedule meetings. Also, in an effort to jump start the process, the union was in the middle of making tentative plans to send Collins and other union officials to Norway to attempt to meet with Kongsberg officials at their headquarters.
After the rally, hundreds of attendees took to the streets in a peaceful march. Some Van Wert residents and downtown business people stood along the sidewalks, clapping and cheering as the group passed while motorists honked their horns in support.
"We are very happy at the turnout today," said Collins. "And the support from the community has been terrific."
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