IAM District 10 in Milwaukee, WI, recently negotiated a new six-year agreement with Cudahy, Wisconsin–based Ladish Company, demonstrating what can be achieved when all sides honor the requirement to bargain in good faith.
The terms of the new agreement include annual three percent wage increases, no change in the employee contribution toward health insurance, better dental coverage, an increase in the company contribution to the IAM Pension Plan in each year of the agreement, an increase in disability pay and a fifth week of vacation for more employees.
Ladish is an aerospace manufacturer that was recently purchased by Allegheny Technologies in a deal that brought more work to the Cudahy, WI plant.
“If you take the last contract, and this one, it’s a 36 percent wage increase over 12 years,” said Assistant Directing Business Representative (ADBR) Scott Parr, who, along with Business Representative Pat O’Connor, led the negotiations for the IAM and the five other unions at the facility.
“The parties agreed to try early negotiations and it was successful. It’s unprecedented, especially in the current climate of strained labor relations at many companies,” said Parr who noted that all six unions at Ladish all inked new agreements months ahead of the contract deadline.
The new contracts go into effect March 1, 2012.
“Am I going to hold this as my banner with other companies? You bet I am,” said Parr.
IAM Midwest Territory GVP Philip J. Gruber praised ADBR Parr, BR O’Connor and the committees at Ladish, saying, “We sincerely appreciate the commitment made by the District 10 leadership and the IAM leadership at Ladish to ensure our members receive the wages, benefits and working conditions they deserve.”
