Union members were locked out of the plant at 1500 Kingsview Drive since June 15, and protested in shifts night and day.
Most recently, the union voted down a contract proposal on Oct. 20. The newest four-year contract approved Sunday "wasn't much different" than the one members considered earlier this month. "But we had a lot of people ready to get back to work," Woods said.
“It was definitely something we could live with,” Woods said.
An extended labor contract expired in June. The company’s original proposal for a new labor agreement called for higher insurance premiums. Union members will still pay more for health insurance, however, Local 2387 members retained seniority, vacation time and existing wages, Woods said.
HTNA in June originally threatened to cut seniority, benefits and wages, Woods said.
When this newspaper visited the picket line last week, one of the locked out workers Greg Simpson of Middletown said it was worth fighting for his job. He has worked at HTNA for 14 years.
“It’s a very stressful situation for me and my family. We’re running on the bare minimum of finances right now,” Simpson said on Oct. 22, before the vote.
“This was a good job and I’m not going to find a better job out there,” Simpson said.
“We just want a fair contract. We want basically what we had. We’re willing to give some, but not all like they’re asking us to,” he said.
Meanwhile, charges filed by United Auto Workers in June alleging unfair labor practices by the company are pending, said Gary Muffley, regional director for the National Labor Relations Board in Cincinnati. The charges allege that the lockout was unlawful and involve the termination of employees’ health and life insurance benefits as a result of the lockout, Muffley said.
“I do understand that the parties talked about an overall settlement involving the NLRB charges,” Muffley said. “I’m waiting to hear from the parties.”
Phone calls seeking comment from the Lebanon company have not been returned.
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