Momentive, union ask NLRB for more time to reach agreement

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=909791&category=SARATOGA

By ERIC ANDERSON BUSINESS EDITOR
First published in print: Wednesday, March 10, 2010

COLONIE -- Momentive Performance Materials Inc. and its largest union have jointly asked the National Labor Relations Board in Albany to postpone an April 5 hearing to give them time to settle their differences and reach agreement on a new contract.


The move comes as the company's finances show some improvement and as Momentive moves ahead with plans to build a new headquarters and research facility at Rensselaer Technology Park in North Greenbush.

Momentive in January 2009 underwent a "restructuring" at its Waterford plant that cut the pay of 400 union workers by an average of 25 percent, although many of those workers said the actual cuts were even deeper.

The plant, the former GE Silicones, has nearly 1,000 employees, including those in management and engineering.

The union representing the majority of the plant's 600 production workers, IUE/CWA Local 81359, filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board, and early this year the board said it would seek an order requiring the company to undo that restructuring and restore wages and other contract provisions.

A hearing was scheduled for April 5 in Albany.

"The company and union have jointly requested postponement of the hearing in order to allow more time for the parties to bargain in advance of the June 20 contract expiration," said Momentive spokesman John Scharf. "If the NLRB accepts the request, we would look forward to bargaining a new contract and resolution of this issue."

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FULL story at link.