Mon, May 12 2008
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Published April 30, 2008 08:17 pm - A strike may be looming among union workers at EaglePicher Technologies, company and union officials said Wednesday. Union leaders urging EP workers to reject company contract offer By Susan Redden sredden@joplinglobe.com A strike may be looming among union workers at EaglePicher Technologies, company and union officials said Wednesday. Members of Local 812, United Steelworkers of America, will vote Friday on a contract, and union leaders are recommending that the proposal be rejected, said Teresa Buckmaster, union vice president. Company officials are aware that will be the recommendation, according to Creed Jones, vice president of human resources. “We’ve made plans and taken the necessary steps to continue operation with no interruption of service or products to our customers,” Jones said. Contract negotiations have been under way for the past several weeks. Jones said there were “many areas of agreement, but the main areas of disagreement are probably job-classification changes and health-care-cost contributions.” Buckmaster agreed with Jones’ assessment. She said the union represents 252 members, and that the vote is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Joplin Boys & Girls Club. The current contract expires Friday. Though she would not be more specific about the negotiations, Buckmaster said union representatives will be available to answer questions after the vote. Jones said the company, after “difficult negotiations,” proposed a contract calling for general wage increases, additional raises for several employees as a result of changes in job classifications, competitive health-care coverage, and a ratification bonus. If there is a strike, Jones said, “Plant doors will remain open. “We expect our nonunion employees to come to work, and union workers who wish to come to work have a right to do so as well.” He said the company is committed “to providing good jobs, wages, benefits and a safe place to work for our employees. We also remain committed to supplying the needs of vital national defense contractors, who are our customers.” The company employs between 800 and 900 workers. The plant at C Street and Porter Avenue in Joplin manufactures thermal batteries used in missile systems and rocket-launch vehicles. The company recently received a multimillion-dollar contract from the Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command to develop the next generation BA-5590 battery with a built-in state of charge indicator. The lithium sulfur dioxide battery is the military’s most widely used battery. 
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