August 20, 2009 - Members of Local Lodge 1580 in Wellsville, NY overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year agreement with Dresser-Rand that restores most of the past sacrifices IAM members made to keep the plant operating. Workers at the Wellsville plant manufacture steam turbines.
The new contract features a 5 percent bonus to each employee and wage increases of 3 percent and 5 percent over the life of the agreement. Members will also receive significant increases to their IAM National Pension Fund contributions in the 2nd and 3rd year of the contract. IAM negotiators also held the line on health care costs, maintaining current levels of coverage while reducing the amount of employee contributions. Other improvements include increases in shift differential, overtime and vacations.
The new accord comes after an attempt at early negotiations in November 2008 ended when the company made an offer that failed to address the concerns of the Local 1580 members and their families.
“The Negotiating Committee fought hard to achieve these improvements,” said District 65 Business Representative Ron Warner. “The committee not only made improvements in every area, we were able to get back language lost in the previous contract when workers took big cuts to ensure Dresser’s survivability and to protect jobs.” In 2006, members took nearly a 30 percent cut in wages and benefits in response to what Dresser-Rand referred to as necessary steps to ensure the future of the company in the Wellsville area. The new contract restores most of those sacrifices.
“Everything that was accomplished in these negotiations was a direct result of the members’ support,” said Warner. “The membership through various committees communicated, educated and built solidarity on the shop floor and in the community for more than a year. In the end, they were a force to be reckoned with.”
“Congratulations to District 65 Directing Business Rep. Norm Smith, Business Rep. Ron Warner, Grand Lodge Rep. Karl Heim and the entire negotiating committee at Local 1580,” said Eastern Territory General Vice President Lynn D. Tucker, Jr. “The results prove that preparation and solidarity pay off.”
