RALLY TO SUPPORT STRIKING HUSTON PATTERSON EMPLOYEES
There will be a Rally on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the Masonic Temple located at 300 N. Church St. in Decatur Illinois starting time at 4:30 p.m. The Teamster Joint Council 25 Semi-Trailer Truck will be there along with an inflatable rat. All Union Active and Retired members, and supporters are invited to show support for these workers.
The pressroom and pre-press employees of Huston Patterson Company, located in Decatur, Illinois, are on strike against Huston Patterson to protest its unfair labor practices. The 38 employees walked out at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 30, 2010. Huston Patterson is a commercial printer located in Decatur.
The striking employees are represented by Champaign-Urbana-Decatur, Local 219-M of the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Huston Patterson unilaterally slashed employees’ wages by about 15 percent last August, and is demanding another 5 percent cut. The Company has also unilaterally cut the employees’ health insurance benefits, 401(k) plan contributions, sick days, and has unilaterally changed its treatment of unused vacation days.
Local 219-M has been in negotiations with Huston Patterson for a new collective bargaining agreement for over a year. Despite the Company’s unilateral actions, the Union has still tried to negotiate a fair contract. However, the Company’s continued unfair labor practices made good faith bargaining impossible, and the Union members voted to go on an unfair labor practice strike.
Local 219-M has represented these employees for over 35 years. Local 219-M President Jamie Craig stated, “I regret that these long-time employees have been forced to strike in these difficult times, but Huston Patterson’s continued unfair labor practices and unyielding demands for even deeper cuts gave us no choice. I hope the Company will finally come to its senses, and agree to a fair contract.”
Local 219-M is being assisted by District Council Four, Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
For additional information contact:
Jamie Craig, President, Local 219-M, GCC/IBT - (309) 830-4868
Bill Kaucher, Business Representative, District Council 4, GCC/IBT - (630) 339-6132
Bob Miller, Secretary-Treasurer, District Council 4, GCC/IBT - (630) 668-4337
July 21, 2010
