CONTACT: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, jkamm@usw.org
(Wheeling, W.Va.) – Members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 152M this week ratified a 2-year collective bargaining agreement with Tecnocap that raises wages, increases pension contributions, creates safeguards for workers and provides other improvements.
The deal comes more than four years after the approximately 50 workers’ previous contract expired. In that time, Tecnocap, a manufacturer of metal closures, committed serious violations of federal labor law, such that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) this August went so far as to condemn the company as a repeat offender.
USW District 8 Director Larry Ray, who represents workers in West Virginia and three other nearby states, credited the win to the strength and solidarity of the members.
“It’s clear that Tecnocap had every intention of trying to break our resolve and force a deeply concessionary contract down our throats,” Ray said, “but we remained united, and ultimately we prevailed.”
Over the course of negotiations, the union was forced to file more than 50 unfair labor practice charges. Tecnocap’s illegal actions included unilaterally cutting employee health insurance and forcing employees to work 12-hour shifts.
“This battle was hard-fought,” said Ray, “but we beat back the company’s unreasonable demands and proved once again that we are most powerful when we stand together.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.