“If we have to bring Madison to Oshkosh, we’ll bring Madison to Oshkosh.”
Up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin the United Auto Workers is in negotiations with a company, Oshkosh Corporation, which manufactures vehicles for the military, fire and emergency apparatus, as well as commercial vehicles and equipment.
Like many military contractors faced with billions being cut from the Department of Defense, Oshkosh is facing lower revenues, along with ever-increasing healthcare costs.
As a result, they’ve offered the United Auto workers (which represents approximately 3,100 Oshkosh employees) a contract that gives wage increases and bonuses, but increases employees’ portion of health care costs.
UAW members, unsatisfied with the company’s offer, are threatening to strike as their contract expires on Saturday, vowing to bring Madison-like protests to Oshkosh..
Hundreds of union workers and their family members met outside the Local 578 hall in Oshkosh on Sunday, ready to send a message to the city’s largest employer.
“We want a fair deal,” said Nick Nitschke, the president of Local 578.
[snip]
Union members warn if they don’t receive a better offer, the scene of protesters from Sunday could get worse.
“They don’t want this group in front of their company, if we do have to strike, because it’ll be bigger than this,” said Nitschke. “If we have to bring Madison to Oshkosh, we’ll bring Madison to Oshkosh.”
via Union workers protest at Oshkosh Corp..
We’ll see what happens Sunday.
Do the vehicles built include those covered by the contract that BHO and company pulled from BAE in Texas and moved to a union state? Too bad for the military, the US and BAE.
Unions lost in Madison, they’ll lose in Oshkosh.