Local Chapter Of IAMAW May Be Decertified

A vote is scheduled March 15 for New Piper Aircraft workers to decide if the local chapter of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers will be decertified, after one worker's petition was approved Friday by the National Labor Relations Board in Tampa.

"There has been a stipulated agreement for an election on March 15," Karen LaMartin, assistant regional director for NLRB, told the Treasure Coast Palm. "The majority of the bargaining unit, or 50 percent plus one, must vote for the union to stay. Otherwise the union will be decertified."

The issue was raised by 18-year Piper employee Susan Groenwoldt in a petition filed June 30, in which she questioned the union's effectiveness in representing employees at New Piper.

"For two years, we have lived through nothing but empty promises to accept a contract that wasn't worth the paper it was written on," said Gorenwoldt Friday in a prepared statement. "On March 15, Piper's employees will get a chance to clearly say whether or not they want the union to go or stay."

The IAMAW represents about 500 members at New Piper's plant in Vero Beach, FL -- and represents 768 within the bargaining unit. All of those employees are eligible to vote.

The vote to decertify the union is just the latest labor issue to hit New Piper. As was reported by Aero-News, a strike was narrowly averted last July when workers agreed to a three-year contract extension. Many workers expressed displeasure with the deal, but agreed only because Piper said it was the best they could offer.

One worker questioned by the TC Palm doubts the March vote will remove the union from New Piper.

"I don't think a decertification is justified," 13-year Piper electrician Paul Hayden said. "It's just sad because some of the employees with lots of years here have left."

Union representative Lou Brogna also expects the union to stay.

"The energy is out there. I see it every day," he said. For now, however, there are other issues at stake.

"At this time, our goal is to ensure our members are able to make decisions without harassment or intimidation from anyone," said Brogna. "It is their legal right to see that this election is conducted in accordance with the law."

That sentiment was echoed by New Piper.

"We respect the rights of our employees for another vote on the issue," said Piper spokesman Steve Johnston. "We believe in democratic procedures and at the end of the day it will be the employees who make the final decision on this issue."

FMI: www.newpiper.com, www.iamaw.org