“We did NOT capitulate”

Locked out since Nov. 1, 2009, the UAW Local 19 workers of Light Metals Corp., 2740 Prairie St. SW in Wyoming, ratified a contract on Friday, May 21.

“Although it is a far cry from a great contract, it is a contract that was negotiated and we are all returning to work next Wednesday. (It’s a) five-and-a-half year contract expiring on Oct. 31, 2015,” reported Chuck Dietrich, chief union steward and Light Metals employee for nearly 40 years. “Oh yes, all members who want to will be returning to work and all replacement workers (scabs) will be looking for new employment.”

The locked-out workers stood steadfast on the picket line, through rain and shine, ice and snow, harassment by company security guards and the Wyoming police, who during the coldest days of winter made the workers extinguish a warming fire safely built in a portable metal fire-pit.

In November 2004, Light Metals locked out their UAW workers, who were working under contract, until a court decision brought union workers back to work. When that contract expired last November (2009), they locked them out again. Even though the Local had agreed to a new contract’s demands for cuts in pay, benefits and holidays in November, Light Metals refused to let them work.

The 70 men and women who were locked out averaged 20 years employment with Light Metals. They maintained their daily picket line simply because they wanted their jobs back. While the financial hardship of being locked out for nearly six months has taken its toll, they are happy to be back to work.

“I am proud of our membership,” Dietrich said. “We did NOT capitulate. We DID negotiate.”