By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor
A strike of union steelworkers continued overnight outside TruSeal Technologies after talks between union and company officials ended without a contract Wednesday evening.
With lawnchairs lined along the road’s right-of-way and a barrel burning a fire, about two dozen striking employees stood vigil outside the Barbourville plant, braving the cold weather. It’s the first time employees of the plant have gone on strike since 1978, when the plant was owned by Tremco, one striking employee said.
“We’re out here because they’re trying to take our benefits away from us,” said Elisha Havens, who was bundled in a blanket outside the plant. “And we’re not asking for much, we’re just asking that they leave us where we’re at, not take anything away from us. I don’t even care if we get a raise, I just want the money that we’re making now.”
The strike began at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after members of United Steelworkers Local 8411 voted down the new three-year contract proposed by company officials and the two parties failed to negotiate a compromise.
Sam Elliott, staff representative with United Steelworkers, said union and company officials met from about 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, with plans to continue talks at 9 a.m. Thursday (today).
“We had negotiations, they just ended, and they were about as positive as they have been since we’ve been meeting with the company,” he said. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed and looking forward to meeting again tomorrow and Friday and already have Tuesday and Wednesday scheduled next week.”
Elliot said the union is still pursuing charges of unfair labor practices, claiming that TruSeal staff questioned and interrogated employees about union activities.
“But we had some positive negotiations today,” he added. “We’re scheduled to meet tomorrow, the next day, and then two days next week already... This is unusual in a strike situation. Usually a company digs its heels in and don’t want to talk for a while. It’s a good sign and they made movement and we made movement and we’re on our way to getting a contract built.”
Points of contention in the contract included changes proposed by the company to increase insurance premiums, eliminate attendance bonuses, change employee 401K and overtime policies, and allow for weekly changes in employee schedules.
“These guys worked for over 30 years for stuff that we built up, benefits and stuff, and they’re trying to take it out in one day,” said Shannon Mills, an 11-year employee of the company who’d spent about 12 hours at the strike line Wednesday. “So we’re standing here for our families, to make everything better, and to keep what we got, we’re not asking for nothing, just to keep what we got.”
Passersby on Wednesday gave a few honks to the striking workers, and some brought coffee and donuts.
When asked how long he was prepared to strike, James Smith, a 23-year employee, pointed to a button on his ball cap, which read “Whatever it takes.”
Gary Ellis, standing alongside him, added, “One day longer than the company.”
TruSeal Technologies, Inc. is a manufacturer of warm-edge, insulating glass sealant spacer systems for windows, doors and solar panels. TruSeal’s Barbourville location currently has 132 active hourly employees.
A story in Wednesday’s edition mistakenly reported that the roughly 35 employees currently laid off from TruSeal were eligible to vote with the union Tuesday. Only about half of the laid-off workers, who had been laid off less than two years, were eligible to vote.
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Discussion
TruSeal strike continues on
Talks scheduled through next week
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