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."