
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 24, 1993                   TAG: 9309240176
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN                                LENGTH: Short

UNION GIVES OK TO STRIKE AT ARSENAL

Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union members at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant have voted to authorize a strike if the union and Hercules Inc. - the plant's operating contractor - are unable to reach a contract agreement by Oct. 6.

Ken Thompson, president of the local, said Thursday that "a big majority" of the 900 union workers cast ballots Wednesday, and almost 98 percent of those who voted favored walking off their jobs at the Army propellant-manufacturing plant.

Over the past few years, dramatic decreases in Defense Department propellant orders have led to the loss of some 2,000 jobs at the plant. However, Thompson said the union was not concerned that the company might hire back laid-off workers if a strike does occur.

"We don't worry about those kinds of things," he said.

Thompson said he hoped Hercules and the union can reach a tentative agreement to put before the union membership, but he stopped short of saying whether he was optimistic that would happen before the strike deadline.

"We are continuing to meet on a daily basis," he said, declining to comment further the negotiations.

Nicole Kinser, spokeswoman for the Administrative Contracting Office at the plant, said Thursday that the government does not get involved in company-union matters.

Hercules officials were in negotiations Thursday afternoon and unavailable for comment.

by CNB