Printing workers on strike (Prominent customers include Hallmark Cards Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp.)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/164726.html

Printing workers on strike
About 50 employees walked out at Greystone Graphics after the KCK company instituted cuts in wages and benefits.
By RANDOLPH HEASTER
The Kansas City Star

About 50 employees are on strike against Greystone Graphics Inc. after failing to reach new contracts with the Kansas City, Kan., printing company.

Members of two locals of the Graphic Communications Conference took to the picket line on Thursday, four months after the company began instituting permanent wage and benefit cuts, said Byron Austin, president of Graphic Communications Conference Local 235-M.

“We’re hoping we can still get the company to give us a fair agreement,” Austin said Monday. “These cuts they’ve made are excessive, and there’s no justification for it.”

Jim Lloyd, Greystone’s general manager, said production is continuing, with management and nonunion employees keeping operations going. Five union employees have withdrawn from the bargaining unit to return to work, he said.

Greystone is operating at about 30 percent to 50 percent of its normal operating capacity, according to Lloyd. As of Monday, all customer orders had been filled without interruption, he said.

Prominent customers of Greystone, one of the area’s biggest printers, include Hallmark Cards Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp.

FULL story at link.

[AndreaCG]

1. Good luck

They'll need it if more workers do this:

"Five union employees have withdrawn from the bargaining unit to return to work, he said."