Dresser-Rand accused of discrimination

[Omaha Steve]

http://news10now.com/content/top_stories/129956/dresser-rand-accused-of-discrimination/Default.aspx

Dresser-Rand accused of discrimination
Updated: 12/15/2008 06:03 PM
By: Mariah Sparks

PAINTED POST, N.Y. -- More than a year after Dresser-Rand locked some of its striking union employees out of its Painted Post plant, a new report issued by the National Labor Relations Board finds the company may have broken the law.

"I think it's good that the board ruled in our favor that, yes, the company did discriminate against us," said Steve Coates, President of Local 313 IUE.



The report says Dresser-Rand was wrong to reinstate 13 people who crossed the picket line before they reinstated picketers who stayed with the strike until a temporary deal was made.

"It was kind of like preferential treatment. They crossed the line and said hey, we're going to bring you back first," Coates said.

Coates says after the lockout, Dresser-Rand implemented certain terms of employment not negotiated with the union.

"We were looking for people to be called back in accordance with the imposed offer, which they didn't do,” Coates said. “They eliminated seniority for everyone."

Leaving 25 employees out of work for the past year. Now Coates wants Dresser-Rand employees to be paid back money the union believes is rightfully theirs.

FULL story at link.