07.07.10
“This is a very difficult economic environment. The current stalemate leaves many hardworking Illinois families trying to get by without their regular paychecks. If this lockout continues, the broader Metropolis community will be hurt. Unemployment in Massac County is at 8.9 percent, and local businesses are trying to survive until the economy recovers,” Durbin wrote. “I am also concerned that the residents of Massac County are being put at risk because nuclear chemicals are now being handled by workers unfamiliar with that Honeywell plant. I urge you to…reach an agreement as quickly as possible.”
Honeywell’s Metropolis plant produces nuclear fuel for power plants around the country and employs 385 workers.
A copy of Durbin’s letter can be found below:
July 6, 2010
Dear Mr. Gerard:
I write to urge your union to quickly reach a negotiated settlement to your labor dispute in Metropolis, Illinois. Our shared goal is for 220 members of the local steelworkers union to return to their jobs and for Honeywell to resume its normal production.
This is a very difficult economic environment. The current stalemate leaves many hardworking Illinois families trying to get by without their regular paychecks. If this lockout continues, the broader Metropolis community will be hurt. Unemployment in Massac County is at 8.9 percent, and local businesses are trying to survive until the economy recovers. I am also concerned that the residents of Massac County are being put at risk because nuclear chemicals are now being handled by workers unfamiliar with that Honeywell plant.
I appreciate how difficult contract negotiations can be. I respect your efforts to represent the interests of your fellow workers/company to the best of your ability. At the same time, a negotiated settlement would be good for all entities and for the greater community. I urge you to continue working toward that end and reach an agreement as quickly as possible.
Sincerely,
Dick Durbin
United States Senator
Durbin Urges Steelworkers and Honeywell to Quickly Settle Labor Dispute
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the United Steelworkers and Honeywell to quickly reach a settlement on their ongoing contract dispute which has left 220 workers locked out Honeywell’s Metropolis, Illinois plant. In a letter to Leo Gerard, President of United Steelworkers and David Cote, CEO of Honeywell International, Durbin acknowledged the shared goal of getting all of the locked out employees back to work and for Honeywell to resume normal production. The steelworkers have been locked out of work for two weeks after they failed to reach an agreement on a new contract with Honeywell.“This is a very difficult economic environment. The current stalemate leaves many hardworking Illinois families trying to get by without their regular paychecks. If this lockout continues, the broader Metropolis community will be hurt. Unemployment in Massac County is at 8.9 percent, and local businesses are trying to survive until the economy recovers,” Durbin wrote. “I am also concerned that the residents of Massac County are being put at risk because nuclear chemicals are now being handled by workers unfamiliar with that Honeywell plant. I urge you to…reach an agreement as quickly as possible.”
Honeywell’s Metropolis plant produces nuclear fuel for power plants around the country and employs 385 workers.
A copy of Durbin’s letter can be found below:
July 6, 2010
Dear Mr. Gerard:
I write to urge your union to quickly reach a negotiated settlement to your labor dispute in Metropolis, Illinois. Our shared goal is for 220 members of the local steelworkers union to return to their jobs and for Honeywell to resume its normal production.
This is a very difficult economic environment. The current stalemate leaves many hardworking Illinois families trying to get by without their regular paychecks. If this lockout continues, the broader Metropolis community will be hurt. Unemployment in Massac County is at 8.9 percent, and local businesses are trying to survive until the economy recovers. I am also concerned that the residents of Massac County are being put at risk because nuclear chemicals are now being handled by workers unfamiliar with that Honeywell plant.
I appreciate how difficult contract negotiations can be. I respect your efforts to represent the interests of your fellow workers/company to the best of your ability. At the same time, a negotiated settlement would be good for all entities and for the greater community. I urge you to continue working toward that end and reach an agreement as quickly as possible.
Sincerely,
Dick Durbin
United States Senator
Previous Article Next Article