April 1, 2009
Dear Brother and Sisters,
Members at our Metaldyne unit recently faced losing their union.
A union de-certification petition was circulated on the shop floor. When the local union first became aware of the de-certification petition it already appeared to have gained enough momentum and support to be filed officially and taken to the next step.
The workers at Metaldyne and the Union acted quickly and decisively to stop the de-certification petition. We talked to and educated workers about the benefits of being union over the past weeks. Relatively quickly it was evident that the workers there already knew the benefits. Many stated that they remember before the union they did not receive a pay raise for three years. Nearly all workers think that they are way better off than they were before the union.
Subsequently the petition has been withdrawn and it is overwhelmingly clear that a very large majority of workers at Metaldyne still want a union.
To me, it is perplexing that any worker would not want a contract that provides protections and guarantees for our families.
When workers come together they can overcome any challenge, as long as they stand in Solidarity.
Now that the de-certification attempt is over, Metaldyne workers face another challenge in the upcoming months, contract negotiations.
I believe that workers there understand the need to come together and the “together we stand, divided we fall” concept.
I am proud of our members at Metaldyne as they stood together in Solidarity. They are an excellent example of what a union is about, coming together for the benefit of all.
In Solidarity,
George Drexel