Dispute over temps puts QC Die Casting workers on street protesting

[Omaha Steve]

http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=348044

Posted Online: Posted online: July 27, 2007 8:51 PM
Print publication date: 07/28/2007
Dispute over temps puts QC Die Casting workers on street protesting
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By Jonathan Turner, [e-mail]

MOLINE -- Ninety union employees are without jobs, and most without benefits, following a three-month contract dispute and lockout at Quad City Die Casting, 3800 River Drive.

Employees were informed Thursday night they would be locked out of work effective immediately. This will continue until their union, United Electrical Local 1174, agrees to the company's "last, best and final offer for a new labor agreement," according to a letter from company president Drew Debrey.


More photos from this shoot: http://photos.qconline.com/photog/vgallery.cgi?prcss=more_pics&dir=07-22-07_07-28-07/07-27-07/lockout27
Photo: Nick Loomis
Quad City Die Casting employee of 15 years, Matt Warren of Aledo signals to motorists as they pass the aluminum parts manufacturer at 3800 River Drive in Moline. Mr. Warren is protesting a lockout with his fellow employees Friday. Quad City Die Casting employees are working with United Electrical Local 1174 to settle the contract dispute with management.


"We take this action with regret, but believe it is necessary to protect the interests of our company, our customers and ultimately your job security," the letter says.

Quad City Die Casting -- which produces aluminum and magnesium components at a 40,000-square-foot plant -- had been negotiating a new contract with the union since May. Workers had been under a prior three-year agreement that froze wages until it expired June 30, said Local 1174 president Rich Nordholm, a toolmaker.

"Just to lock us out and pull back, I think, was very wrong. It was a shock," he said Friday, as about a dozen employees sat outside the building protesting the move, holding signs out to motorists. Some workers were out since 6:30 a.m. Friday.

The parties brought in a federal mediator to try to resolve the contract dispute, and they met at an unsuccessful nine-hour session on July 17.

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[brentspeak]

1. k and r

:kick:

[madrchsod]

2. it`s really amazing that they are still in die casting business

tata from india is taking over the us market in die casting. a plant i worked at went from korean die casts to tata of india. absolute crap castings but they are cheaper than anyone else in the world