Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 9, 1992 TAG: 9203090159
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The contract includes an 11 percent pay raise over three years for production workers and only a slight increase in employees' share for health insurance.
"I think it's great," said Carson Campbell, who's worked at the industrial lighting fixture plant for 12 1/2 years. "I would have been happy to hold on to what we had before."
Like Campbell, most workers expected health insurance to jump substantially, and feared they would lose ground when increased premiums ate up any pay raises the company offered.
One company spokesman declined comment on the contract vote, and another was unavailable.
Local union President Ted Overbaugh said the union's game plan heading into negotiations was to get a health-care package that would not bankrupt the workers.
"We got something here folks that if this don't blow you away, if this don't make you happy, you can't be made happy," he said.
The union represents 285 workers and another 60 who have been laid off over the last two years. About 175 members turned out for the vote.
Members approved the package, which includes:
A 40-cent-per-hour pay raise on the plant's $9.64 average production wage, with a 35-cent and 30-cent increases the next two years.
An additional 20 cents per hour for the first two years and 15 cents the third year for skilled workers.
An increase in monthly health insurance payments of $8 to $12 for an individual, with a cap at a $20 monthly total the last year. Family coverage will now cost $31 a month, and rise to $53 in the last year of the contract.
"We think this is as good as we can get for you. If we went out on strike for another nickel, nobody would profit," Overbaugh told the members at the VFW hall in Christiansburg.
Everybody appeared pleased with the contract. Union members nodded as Overbaugh and other union officials went over the contract, often cheering and applauding.
Mary Hale phoned a co-worker just before the vote, and despite a bad connection, managed to get the news across.
"A LOT," she shouted into the phone. "IT LOOKS GOOD."
Another worker, Lori Bishop, said that during the past few weeks of negotiations she was scared the union would be forced to strike "because of the way things are going."
Frank Rothweiler, the International representative who headed up the union's negotiations, said the union went into the talks disadvantaged.
"Always the leverage is on the company's side" when the economy is down, he said.
Hubbell's initial offer was a flat 10-cent hourly raise each year of the contract, coupled with health insurance increases to $30 per month for an individual and $60 for a family, union officials said.
But Rothweiler praised the membership's strong showing of solidarity throughout two weeks of talks. Members sent coffee, cakes, letters of support and even a singing telegram to the negotiating team, which met at the Blacksburg Marriott.
The sides reached a settlement Saturday at 7:30 p.m., more than a day before the old contract expired.
There has never been a strike at the Hubbell plant, which opened in the early 1970s.
by CNB