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UAW begins strike at HCC in Mendota · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: UW begins strike at HCCA Mendota. Written by Matthias Werner.
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  This article is being read by an automated voice brought
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  to you by Everlett. United Autoworkers. Members at HCC Inc.
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  Began to line First Avenue at midnight on Wednesday after
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  the Mendota Agricultural equipment manufacturer and Local nine hundred and
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  four leadership could not reach an agreement. The union pointed
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  to growing prices as one reason for working for a
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  better deal. Prices have skyrocketed, and our people have mortgages
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  and want to put their kids through college. Local president
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  Chief Marine said, we did not find the last offer
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  good enough, so here we are. Agreements between HCC and
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  the union are renewed every four years. Following an agreement
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  in twenty twenty two that Marine characterized as favorable to
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  the company, the workers were ardent in their desire to
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  make a better deal this time around. Negotiations began in March.
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  Marine said the bargaining committee had reached a tentative agreement
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  around Easter, but the rank and file did not feel
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  that it had secured enough and the agreement was not solidified.
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  HCC released a statement Tuesday stating that its latest offer
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  was the furthest it was willing to go with the union.
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  When that was deemed insufficient by the union bargaining committee
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  and the workforce Local nine hundred and four decided to strike.
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  Marine said that the main points of conflict in the
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  negotiations surrounded wages and benefits, with insurance premiums as a priority.
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  That tentative agreement included a ten percent wage increase in
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  twenty twenty six, additional wage increases throughout the term of
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  the contract, increased shift premiums, improved training pay, expanded vacation benefits,
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  and continued health insurance with only minimal cost adjustments. HCC
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  said in its statement, the details of the agreement or
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  demands of the workers were not specified by Marine, citing
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  legal and negotiation concerns. We just want what we feel
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  is fair for the workers, he said. The union workers
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  make up a majority of the company's workforce, but some
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  non union workers are still working. HCC believes the union's
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  decision is short sighted. The company's statement read, despite that decision,
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  HCC is committed to continuing operations and has plans in
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  place to ensure minimal, if any impact on our customers
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  and vendors while the strike began less than twenty four
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  hours ago. Marine said that plans had been in place
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  to prepare for a work stoppage. There have been things
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  going on behind the scenes to help us prepare for
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  where we are at this point, he said. We want
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  to protect our workers while we try and get them
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  a better deal, and we're prepared to do whatever it
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  takes to make that happen. Marine said that the striking
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  workers have reached out to local businesses to help them
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  strengthen their position while the strike is ongoing. We'd accept
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  any any type of support, really, he said, whether it's money, supplies,
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  a public show of support, or anything else to help us.
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  Sides have indicated that an agreement is possible. The company
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  remains open to returning to the bargaining table and reaching
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  a fair and timely resolution that recognizes the value of
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  our employees while protecting the long term interests of the business,
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  our customers, and the community we serve. The HCC statement
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  concluded workers have been occupying the front of the business
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  with ten point fifteen maintaining a constant visible presence in
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  the strike. Nobody from HCC Inc. Has reached out since
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  the strike began as of yet, but we are open
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  to any negotiations that they want to engage in. Marine,
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  said