Local 1174 members at the Quad City Die Casting are unshaken in their determination to win a just contract, despite being locked out by the company since late July. Their resolve grew even stronger with a state decision granting them unemployment benefits, and with the decisions of two temp agencies to remove their workers from the foundry
Local President Rich Nordholm wonders if the company’s actions show more ego than sense. “Our contract has allowed them the limited use of temps for years, but now they want unlimited temps, part-timers, outsourcing and insourcing. If we agreed to this we’d all be out of a job.” After company officials had agreed that UE members would continue to work under the terms of the old contract while the parties continued negotiations with the help of a federal mediator, they suddenly locked the union out.
Nordholm reports that the majority of the local’s 80 members have been picketing every day. In addition, the union has held rallies every Monday at which UE member have been joined by members of other unions in the Quad Cities area, including UFCW, UAW and Teamster members, East Moline Firefighters and Moline municipal workers.
On August 23 the local announced that it will begin visiting Quad City´s customers, to make them aware of concerns over the quality of products being produced by replacement workers because of the lockout. International Rep. Tim Curtin told the news media, "After four weeks, with all of the skills out on the streets, and the new parts being made by supervision and temporary employees, one has to wonder what will happen to quality."
You can help members of UE Local 1174 and their families during this lockout by:
1. Contributing to the UE Local 1174 Lockout Fund c/o Financial Secretary Bill Peterson, 2001 44th Street, Moline, IL, 61265.
2. Calling Quad City Die Casting Company President Drew DeBray at (309) 762-7346 and demanding that the company return to the bargaining table and agree to keep good jobs in the Quad Cities.
3. Visiting the picket line on the banks of the Mississippi River at 3800 River Drive in Moline.