Georgia-Pacific union workers vow to stay on strike until a fair contract comes their way
ANTIOCH — Georgia-Pacific gypsum plant union workers on strike for a third day Wednesday said they would not budge until their members agreed to a fair contract, despite management welcoming workers who wished to return to work.
Business agent Anthony Rives, representing the International Longshoremen Warehouse Union Local 6, one of the two groups on strike, said unless the union members decide otherwise, the workers will continue to protest outside the production plant on Minaker Drive.
“These guys are not willing to cross the line right now, no way. We have a 100 percent participation,” he said.
More than 100 union workers from two unions first walked off the job Monday, frustrated over their wage and contract negotiations. Workers claimed the management’s negotiators were not local and did not comprehend the rising cost of living in the Bay Area.
Georgia-Pacific’s Public Affairs and Communications Director Rick Kimble said although the union workers have decided to go on strike, the company is dedicated to maintaining operations at the plants to ensure they can meet the demands of their customers.
“While we respect employees’ right to strike, any Antioch employees wishing to work will be allowed to do so. We continue to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement with both unions,” Kimble said in a statement on Wednesday.
Kimble added that negotiations have been done in good faith, despite the unions’ claims, with two offers that were agreed upon and recommended by the union committee members but were later turned down by them.
“Our negotiators rely heavily on local market information and are aware of the cost of living and wages in the Bay Area,” Kimble said. “It is in the company’s best interest to ensure we pay competitively so we can attract and retain employees.”
He added that the company and union are working with a federal mediator to continue negotiations and that the company’s last offer is “still on the table.” Management has received no counter offer from the unions, he said.
Workers remain open to negotiations, Rives said, but he put it on management to pick up the contract talks. Rives, of ILWU Local 6, is on the union negotiating committee representing about 90 members.
“The company knows our numbers, and we’re expecting the company to come back and try to counter that or open negotiations with new numbers and go from there,” Rives said. “Our numbers haven’t changed.”
He said the only way the strike would end was if union members changed their minds and directed their committee to the next steps.
Juan Garcia, a union representative of mechanics and electricians, said his members would also stay put to support their union brothers and sisters.
“We will continue to be on strike until the management reaches out to both of our unions,” Garcia said.
Christian Ortega, a union representative of Local 6, said members are also unhappy with the safety and working conditions in the production plant, adding that workers are exposed to fiberglass particles and pigeon feces. Ortega said there needs to be proper ventilation or showers on-site for workers dealing with fiberglass materials.
“They offer us masks to wear but it’s getting on our skin, fingertips and hair. We are bringing home this stuff,” he said. “There is a vacuum system, like a blower on-site, but that’s all they have provided.”