Striking Wabtec Workers from Erie to join Unionized Wabtec Workers from Wilmerding, Labor and Community Allies to Rally for Family-Sustaining Wages, Decent Benefits, and Safe and Healthy Working Conditions

When: Wednesday, March 6th, 3pm
Where: Corner of Westinghouse Avenue and Station Street [1], Wilmerding (across train tracks from Wabtec)

For more information contact:
Jonathan Kissam, UE Communications Director
(802) 343 1745 | jkissam@ueunion.org [2]

Striking workers from Wabtec’s GE Transportation plant in Erie, PA will join members of UE Local 610 from Wabtec’s Wilmerding air-brake facility to rally against Wabtec’s imposition of forced overtime, wage cuts for new hires and use of temps in Erie and negotiate a fair contract with its Erie workforce.

“UE Local 610 supports our brothers and sisters in UE Locals 506 and 618 who are on strike against Wabtec's concessionary demands that include things like mandatory overtime,” says UE Local 610 President Antwon Gibson. “We are united in demanding that Wabtec raise standards for all workers, not drive them down, in Erie, in Wilmerding, or anywhere in the world. All workers deserve dignity and respect, a decent wage and the ability to spend time with their families and communities.”

“We are moved by this display of solidarity from UE Local 610 and the greater Pittsburgh community, and proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Local 610 to fight for justice for all Wabtec workers,” said UE Local 506 President Scott Slawson.

“Our membership's determination to maintain sustainable family wages, benefits, and healthy work conditions continue to be the issues in the forefront of this strike,” said Local 618 President Karleen Torrance.

Also joining the rally will be State Representative Summer Lee, whose district includes many UE Local 610 members who work at the Wilmerding plant.

The members of UE Locals 506 and 618 are on strike because after taking over GE Transportation Wabtec has imposed “terms and conditions” that include mandatory overtime and arbitrary schedules, wage reductions of up to 38 percent for recalled and newly-hired workers, and the right to use temporary workers for up to 20 percent of the work in the plant. An economic impact study [3] commissioned by UE Local 506 found that Wabtec’s demands would cost the Erie community approximately $17 million, about the same amount as Wabtec CEO Raymond Betler’s corporate merger bonus package.

Negotiators from Locals 506 and 618 will be meeting with the company and a federal mediator today in Erie.

More background on the negotiations and strike is available at ueunion.org/press [4]

- 30 -