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(AKRON, NEW YORK) \u2013 A last-minute effort by ownership to sway its Union-represented Employees failed as Whiting Door Manufacturing Corporation Workers voted 141-to-79 on Tuesday (September 6th) to keep the United Steelworkers (USW) as their Bargaining Representative.<\/p>\n
In what just may have been the first such Union Decertification Election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Western New York Labor History, nearly double the number of those who voted against the Union ensured USW Local 748 will continue representing the company\u2019s 260 Employees.<\/p>\n
A Union-driven outreach effort – which was assisted by the USW International and USW District 4 Office, combined with an Anti-Union flier from Company Vice President Alexandra Whiting that apparently rubbed a number of Workers the wrong way, led to the final outcome, Local 748 President Fred Drahms told WNYLaborToday.com.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt \u2018certainly was an important factor in the final vote.\u2019 \u2018A lot of (Members) told me (the company\u2019s) memo was the final straw, that it was a power trip,\u2019\u201d Drahms said of the flier, which attacked the Union and its Leadership on a number of levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple of days before the vote we had final numbers of around (120) \u2018yes\u2019s, which wasn\u2019t enough – we thought.\u2019 So, \u2018we kept hitting the pavement (contacting and talking to individual Members) and in the end we thought if we got (140), we\u2019re gold – and that was almost dead on,\u2019\u201d Drahms said.<\/p>\n
USW District 4 Sub-District Director Joe Vertalino told WNYLaborToday.com: \u201cThe Local \u2018worked hard to turn the tide and I\u2019m relieved the Membership voted the way they did.\u2019 The Workers \u2018determined – in the end – they were better off with a Union.\u2019 The (company memo) \u2018did play a role (in the final vote), but we will continue to build a working relationship with the company and serve our Members the best we can.\u2019 \u2018No doubt this has served as a victory that will lead to more Unionization of Workers in the Western New York area.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Whiting Door is said to be original manufacturer of roll-up doors for the Transportation Industry that began operations back in 1953. Over the years, the company – which focuses on designing and manufacturing doors that are easy to install, operate and maintain, has grown to become the leading supplier of roll-up doors in the Industry, according to information posted on its website.<\/p>\n
Drahms said the decertification effort was led by a number of younger Members \u201cwho (felt) they would be better off dealing with the company on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some apparently were not happy about the fact that they had to pay a bit more into their health coverage after the company held firm and wouldn\u2019t budge on a negotiated cap, he added.<\/p>\n
Both Drahms and Vertalino said plans are in the works to invest the time in an education effort for Local 748\u2019s Membership – especially targeting its young Members, who may not understand what Unions do for Workers and how important they are in the workplace.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am going to be meeting with our Executive Board and will reach out to the (Member Decertification) petitioner and try to work with our other Members,\u201d Drahms told WNYLaborToday.com. \u201cWe\u2019ll \u2018also look to arrange multiple get-togethers\u2019 with our Members, \u2018break bread with them, put faces to our names and find out what they are thinking.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n