Negotiators for Whirlpool Corp. in Evansville and Local 808 of the IUE (International Union of Electrical Workers) have started discussions on a new labor contract to replace the four-year agreement that expires Feb. 19.
The contract will cover about 1,800 hourly workers at the Evansville plant.
Debbie Castrale, spokeswoman for Whirlpool, said the bargaining units had their first meeting Dec. 16 and have scheduled two additional meetings for today and Thursday this week. The two sides will continue to meet until they reach a tentative agreement, which will need to be approved by the company and by a vote of Local 808 members.
Whirlpool assembly workers receive $15.19 an hour under the current contract. This contract gave workers a wage increase of about 2.35 percent annually over the last four years.
In the Dec. 16 session, Paul Coburn, Evansville Division vice president, said the Evansville plant had made great strides in improving profitability, according to a company newsletter.
“During these contract negotiations, we need to keep this progress in mind and seize this opportunity to make even greater progress in this area,” said Coburn, according to the newsletter. Coburn added that, “at the end of the day, we must remember that we have the same ultimate goal – jobs in Evansville, Ind.”
Ed Fire, IUE president, said he is glad Whirlpool continues to be profitable and asked negotiators to reach an agreement “the members will feel good about,” according to the newsletter.
“There is no magic formula – you just need to be dedicated and keep your eyes on the prize,” as negotiators have done in the past, Fire said.
Negotiators are expected to begin bargaining over contract language today.
One issue that has drawn concern in recent years is the rising cost of health insurance. In October, Whirlpool retirees formed an informational picket line around the Evansville Downtown Civic Center to protest changes in the company-offered insurance coverage.
Another issue that continues to draw union concern is outsourcing and job security at the plant. In the past decade, Whirlpool has moved production of some products to Mexico.
Unlike some past negotiations between the union and company, these negotiations did not open with early contract talks. In 1996, early negotiations led to a tentative contract that was turned down by workers. “It wasn’t very successful,” Castrale said of the early negotiations, and the company was not interested in pursuing them.
Whirlpool workers last struck in 1983. In 1974, about 7,500 Whirlpool workers went on strike for five months.
From courierpress.com