The Springfield News-Sun has followed developments in labor negotiations between Robbins and Myers and Local 902 since February, and Robbins & Myers officials have not commented since then.
But union officials say there was compromise on both sides and no clear winners or losers. Local 902 bargaining chairman Dave Morrow would not elaborate much on what concessions were made.
“There was compromise on both sides,” Morrow said.
“It was for the greater good of the community, the work force and city, and I think that the deal that was worked out ensures what company says they need to be competitive and grow here in Springfield,” Morrow said.
Local 902 — which represents 128 of Moyno’s 240 workers and 150 retirees — has been on strike since March 8. Morrow says the company and union leadership are still working out details of when workers will return to Moyno, but it will be in about two weeks.
“This proves that the company and union were able to work out and hold security of the jobs in Clark County as opposed to leaving,” said John Detrick, county commissioner.
Previously, local officials said they were concerned a prolonged strike could hurt efforts to attract new businesses to the area.
Local 902 voted down the original contract offer on Feb. 6, citing issues with contract language that included frozen pensions, decrease in wages of up to $7 an hour, increased health care costs and elimination of employee and retiree benefits, union members have said. Since then, the company and the union met only twice with the help of a federal mediator, but to no avail.
On June 28, the company sent a letter threatening to “(1) permanently move work to other Robbins & Myers’ facilities where there is more long-term certainty; (2) enter into a more permanent arrangement for outsourcing, or (3) keep the work in Springfield and hire permanent replacements.”
Morrow said the letter was a concern for members but did not play a major role in ratifying the contract.
With this new agreement, the union was able to ensure that retirees under 65 years old would not have to pay higher rates for health benefits until January 2014. He also said that previously, 88 union employees would have been affected by wage cuts.
Now only 23 will have wage cuts.
He said that concessions were “something you swallow” for the greater good.
“I’m just glad the parties could come together, and now we have a spot in Springfield that’s going to (have) jobs our community can look forward to have here and for the future of the people in Springfield,” Morrow said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or emason@coxohio.com.
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