We just decided to do something to support the workers at Nichols Aluminum and would like you to get the word out to all the other Unions in the QC.
I just spoke to Howard Spoon, the President of Teamsters Local 371 and he said it would be great if we could join the guys on the picket line. The company wants healthcare concessions; no wage increases at all just lump sums, two tier wages, etc. They are not scheduled to go back to the table until late next week. There are 254 in the bargaining unit and 220 are members. They only had 7 scabs cross the line and none of them were members. They are running so that smoke comes out the stack. What he meant by that is, the few guys and supervisors are casting and rolling product that in no way would ever be considered good enough to sell to a customer and then just taking it back and re-melting to start all over again.
They have the plant on Rockingham and a casting facility down by the 280 bridge with pickets. I am putting this in my newsletter tomorrow and hope to get a lot of people there. We should not split up but should all go to Rockingham and then all to the other facility for a while. We have 10 signs made up that say “USW Local 105 supports Teamsters Local 371 in their struggle for a fair contract”. We are meeting at our hall at noon and heading to the Rockingham picket line. Anyone can meet at our hall or just be there at the line at about 12:15pm.
Thanks,
Skip McGill President USW Local 105
