TN Workers Reject CASCO Attempt to Cut Benefits, Move Plant

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.jwjblog.org/2010/12/tn-workers-reject-casco-attempt-to-cut-benefits-move-plant/

By Smiley, on December 21st, 2010

Since mid-August, Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee has been in solidarity with workers at ARC Automotive and CASCO PRODUCTS CORP who are in contract negotiations with Workers United.

The company’s proposals included freezing employees’ wages for 3 years, eliminating future pension benefits, drastically increasing employee contributions for health insurance while cutting benefits at the same time, using low wage “temporary” workers in place of regular employees, and eliminating basic employee rights on the job.

Most outrageous were their heavy-handed threats to move the plant elsewhere if the workers did not agree to their demands.

CASCO and their president, Ali El-Haj, are another example of corporate America’s “race to the bottom”, where jobs are moved to where workers are paid the least and have the fewest rights.

The hardworking men and women employed by ARC deserve fair pay and benefits for their labor. They have a basic right to fair, even handed treatment. They are entitled to work free from threats to their jobs for simply standing up for themselves and their families.

After rallying on Saturday, the membership rejected the Company’s proposal by a vote of 69 to 1. They were very resolved to stand up to the Company’s heavy-handed approach. In response, the company declared an “impasse” and said they will be putting in their proposed terms despite the vote. This includes bringing in temps and changing the insurance. The union will be filing charges with the NLRB over this and other violations, and will obviously have East TN JwJ’s continued support in what is promising to be a long fight.

[Vincardog]

1. This is where we need to put our contributions. Who wants to contact them an find out where we can

send money?

[Omaha Steve]

2. Upper right hand corner

http://www.jwjet.org/

[Vincardog]

3. Thanks for the info

[madrchsod]

4. company information

http://www.cascoglobal.com/company/company-history/

http://www.arcautomotive.com/index.html

[littlewolf]

5. is TN a right to work state?

[Omaha Steve]

6. Since 1947

They were part of the first wave of states to pass right to work.

[littlewolf]

7. Ok as a right to work state isn't that going to put a crimp

in what the union can do .... basically the company can do what they want ... right ..?