Adding Insult to Injury: After Deep Union Concessions, Mercury Marine Execs Snag Bonuses

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from In These Times:



Adding Insult to Injury: After Deep Union Concessions, Mercury Marine Execs Snag Bonuses

Friday
March 12
3:01 pm

By Roger Bybee


A few years ago, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) explained the supposed realities of globalization to workers: "We have to be honest with people, delivering a kind of cold wake-up call about the need for change in a fast-shifting economy."

Translation: It is no longer realistic to believe that corporations can afford to reward loyalty and hard work. The burden of change is on you. You are on your own.

This wake-up message was delivered this week to Fond du Lac, Wis. members of the International Association of Machinist Lodge 1947, who produce outboard motors at Mercury Marine. They learned that the Mercury Marine/Brunswick Corp. is granting bonuses to white-collar workers and executives in the wake of enormous pay cuts imposed on production workers last year.

Six months ago, Mercury production workers grudgingly accepted 30% pay cuts to keep their Mercury Marine manufacturing faciltiy in Fond du Lac. The bonuses add insult to that injury, and are an expression of contempt to IAM members who had given massive concessions after Mercury Marine and its parent Brunswick Corp. threatened to abandon Fond du Lac and move 1,800 jobs to Oklahoma.

The concession demand were so deep and sweeping—and community pressure on IAM members to retain the city's largest employer at any cost so strong—that it took three votes before the union members finally approved the concessions. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5676/adding_insult_to_injury_after_deep_union_concessions_mercury_marine_execs_s/