Fond du Lac County supervisors last night worked in closed session to tweak an incentive package for Mercury Marine hoping the company decides to keep its engine making operations in Fond du Lac.
Prior to that closed session, Supervisor Mel Heller has spent his more than 80 years in Fond du Lac and says Mercury Marine has long been a part of the community. Supervisor Jim Kiser said the state, city, and county have done what they can; now things seem to hinge on a union vote which is set for next Sunday.
Two weeks of talks between the company and the union have been unproductive. Monday was the self-imposed deadline for the company to have a new deal in place. It passed without an agreement. The outboard motor maker wants concessions from the union or it’s going to move the Wisconsin operation to a non-union plant in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Mercury Marine says its workers wouldn’t see any pay cuts, but the union says they also wouldn’t get the two percent pay raises in the current contract.
The Fond du Lac City Council also held a similar closed session last week.
Bob Nelson-KFIZ contributed to this report
AUDIO: Sup Kizer on Mercury’s importance (MP3 :18)
