French, U.S. and Canadian Workers to Hold Common Day of Action At Saint Gobain Worksites

DETROIT, June 9 -- Thousands of union members at more than sixty worksites in France, Canada and the United States will join in an international Day of Action on June 11 to support UAW members at Norton Abrasives, a subsidiary of the French based Saint-Gobain Industries in Worcester, Mass.

In addition to sending a message to Saint-Gobain CEO Jean-Louis Beffa and taking other actions in support of UAW members, workers in all three countries will be wearing bi-lingual stickers on June 11, calling for "Justice for UAW Saint-Gobain Workers in Worcester, Mass."

The stickers are decorated with the Statue of Liberty, the traditional symbol of partnership between the United States and France.

In addition to the UAW, unions participating in the International Day of Action include the Fedechimie CGT-FO and the Federation Chimie Energie CFDT in France; the Steelworkers in the U.S. and Canada; the Teamsters, the Glass, Molders, Pottery and Allied Workers International Union, PACE, the International Chemical Workers Union Council, GCIU, and the American Flint Glass Workers Union in the United States.

Having overcome intense company opposition to unionizing by voting for the UAW in August 2001, the workers at the Worcester, Massachusetts Saint- Gobain/Norton Abrasives plant have been trying ever since to win a first contract with the highly profitable company.

Instead of resolving issues in a fair and mutually beneficial manner, the company has continued its resistance to the union by insisting on reducing benefits for active and retired Saint-Gobain/Norton Abrasives workers in Worcester while neglecting long-standing health and safety issues.

UAW leaders questioned CEO Beffa at the company's annual stockholders meeting, held in Paris on June 5. He responded with a "hands-off attitude" toward the dispute by stating that Saint-Gobain was a "decentralized" company.

"We welcome and appreciate the solidarity of our union brothers and sisters in France, Canada and the U.S. in support of the struggle of Saint- Gobain workers for a fair contract," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. "International solidarity is the perfect answer to the company's so-called 'decentralization' policy. The right to collective bargaining is a central issue, and must be respected in all countries where a multinational does business."

"The well-being of these workers and the community in which they live is not just a 'decentralized' local issue. It matters to other Saint-Gobain union members and to workers everywhere," added UAW Regional Director Phil Wheeler, who directs UAW Region 9A, which includes Massachusetts.

"It's an outrage that a highly profitable multi-national firm can systematically deny employees in Worcester their fundamental legal rights, especially after a decade of cutting wages, jobs and pensions and ignoring health and safety concerns," said Leo W. Gerard, USWA International President.

"The American Flint Glass Workers Union is extremely disappointed with Saint-Gobain's behavior in this matter," said AFGWU President Tim Tuttle. "Our members are appalled at this type of arrogant disregard for basic workers' rights."

"This struggle is just one more example of how the so-called global economy is being used to line the bank accounts of the few at the expense of workers and communities. Workers need unions and union solidarity more than ever and we are proud to be a part of this day action," said Ken Zinn of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).

"It is inspiring to know that we have this kind of national and international support from other workers and their unions in our fight for justice here in Worcester, Massachusetts," said Tony Quitadomo a UAW Local 4069 bargaining committee member who works at the Saint-Gobain Glendale facility.