Negotiators for Whirlpool and Local 808 of the International Union of Electrical Workers have moved closer on wages, vacation eligibility and other issues this week as contract talks entered their final lap.
Whirlpool improved its initial wage proposal, offering assembly workers wage increases of 95 cents an hour over the next five years, plus two $800 lump sum payments. The company had previously offered wage increases of 80 cents an hour over the five years, plus two $600 lump sums.
The union lowered its initial proposal to a raise of $1.90 an hour over the next five years, plus a $300 signing bonus. Originally, it had sought a raise of $2.55 an hour over five years and a $500 signing bonus.
The company’s revised offer amounts to a pay increase of about 6.25 percent for the five years, or about 1.2 percent per year. The union’s totals amount to an increase of about 12.5 percent over the five years, or about 2.4 percent per year.
These figures do not take into account the results of Friday’s negotiation session, which were unavailable.
Negotiators are scheduled to meet again Monday. A vote on a contract proposal has been scheduled from 8:30 a.m. Wednesday through 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the union hall, 2333 Bergdolt Road, Evansville.
Neither side will discuss the current negotiations with the news media, but details are being published by both sides in newsletters.
The current contract, which covers about 1,800 workers, expires Thursday. Assembly workers now receive $15.19 an hour.
Meanwhile, the company has put forward its worker premium proposals for medical insurance, and, on many points of coverage, the union has tentatively agreed to the premiums workers should pay. However, some issues remain. For example the company has proposed a charge of $600 to cover a spouse who opts not to use the coverage offered by his or her employer. The union has proposed a $500 spouse surcharge, which would be waived if the spouse’s income is less than $25,000, or the premium is more than $1,000 a year.
The union also opposes a company proposal to raise the medical insurance surcharge from $300 to $500 a year for employees who smoke.
The company’s proposal continues to include provisions for random drug testing, which the union has opposed. The company has said testing would help ensure safety and minimize company liability. The union has said drug testing should be done only if there is probable cause to believe drugs are being abused. The company has said it is a safety and liability issue.
From courierpress.com