Mercury Marine officials and representatives of its employees union held separate press conferences on different ends of Fond du Lac Thursday and they were miles apart in more than geography. Mercury President Mark Schwabero laid out for the media just what Mercury was offering its hourly employees. He stressed that the marine industry has changed over the years and will never be the same.
AUDIO: Schwabero on state of industry (MP3 :10)
Russell Krings is a regional representative for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. He says they represent current, layed off, and retired Mercury employees and have to look out for all those interests. He says the company wants too much.
AUDIO: Krings on contract changes (MP3 :14)
On Sunday about 830 union members will vote on the company’s proposed contract changes. If the changes are rejected it would send the company’s outboard engine making operations to Stillwater, Oklahoma. If the union approves the contract changes it could bring more jobs to Fond du Lac according to Schwabero.
Contributed by Bob Nelson-KFIZ
