A glimmer of hope as Mercury Marine issues a statement that it will meet with Midwest Territory representatives of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The company issued a brief statement last night referring to uncertainty surrounding voting on proposed contract changes and said the two sides have agreed to meet to quote, “bring clarity to the communications regarding the unchanged “best and final” proposal.
Meanwhile frustration continued yesterday over a second vote being taken at the Machinists Lodge 1947 as a ballot box is removed and petitions for the vote are taken about four hours before voting was due to end. Re-vote organizer Fred Toth says their local union leaders fought hard to get the second vote. Toth says the union blamed the company for taking the proposal off the table. More than 500 union workers had voted prior to the removal of the ballot box.
AUDIO: Toth on company and union leadership (MP3 :15)
Contributed by Bob Nelson-KFIZ
