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Vol. 75/No. 6      February 14, 2011

 
N.Y. union strikes over
company’s ‘disrespect’
 
BY PAUL MAILHOT  
Union members at the Momentive Performance Materials plant in Waterford, New York, walked off the job for two days January 13-14. The action was taken over a 30-day suspension given to a union member for a supposed safety violation.

The union chose to strike because of how the company treats the workers, IUE-CWA Local 81359 president Dominick Patrignani told the press. He said the union tried to overturn the suspension through normal procedures but was rebuffed by the company. “We exhausted … the grievance process. This is our right to strike,” he said.

Workers at Momentive Performance, which makes adhesives and sealants, have been in a bitter dispute with the company for the past two years after management restructured the firm and forced a pay cut of as much as 50 percent on some 400 unionized workers.

Management refused to budge on reversing the suspension. Describing the action taken by the union against the company, Patrignani said, “It was the principle behind it, the punishment was unjust. They’re totally disrespectful to the workforce.”
 
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