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Work Stoppage at Honeywell/Talks to Resume Aug. 18

Honeywell Plant in Metropolis, Ill.
file photo
Honeywell Plant in Metropolis, Ill.

A work stoppage has begun at the Metropolis Honeywell plant after management and union representatives failed to reach an agreement. Negotiations at the Metropolis Honeywell plant concluded Thursday night with Honeywell making a final offer, but local 7-669 representatives were disappointed with the proposal, saying it did not address concerns with job security, healthcare, and safety among others. The current contract expired at midnight Friday.

Honeywell representative Peter Dalpe says union leadership then would not allow their membership to vote on the measure. According to Dalpe, the union made demands for 5% pay increases as compared to 2% offered by Honeywell as well as an addition of 50 new union positions and restrictions on using contractors for capital improvements and maintenance.

Daple says when overtime and  benefits are factored, the average total compensation received by bargaining unit workers exceeds $102,000 a year. Nearly half of Metropolis union workers make more than $80,000 a year, and 1 in 5 make more than $90,000 a year in wages – without factoring in their competitive benefits.

Both sides agreed to return to resume bargaining for a full week beginning August 18th.  

The last contract negotiation began in 2010 and lasted more than a year with several workers taking other jobs during the work stoppage.

Dalpe says the plant successfully transitioned operations to salaried personnel and contingent workers just after midnight Friday. All received the same training and certifications as union employees, including being qualified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC has reviewed Honeywell’s contingent operating plans and has personnel on site to monitor operations.

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