News From USW: Steelworkers Announce Tentative Agreement with Meridian

COLUMBUS, Ohio--News From USW: The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union’s negotiating committee has tentatively accepted a collective bargaining agreement with Meridian Automotive Systems, Inc. that could end a 15-month lockout at the company’s Jackson, Ohio plant. The union also said, however, that Meridian on Thursday confirmed that the company plans to close the facility by the end of the year.

“Meridian has acted against the best interests of our members, our communities and its own stakeholders in its decision to abandon production in Jackson,” said USW District 1 Director Dave McCall.

The members of USW Local 820L will meet on Monday, July 30, to review the proposed three-year agreement with their local and international bargaining representatives and conduct a ratification vote at the Jackson JC building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If the company’s offer is ratified, Meridian will be required to recall the union members to the plant. Then if the company does finally decide to close the plant, they will be required to provide all required legal notices and enter into “Effects Bargaining” over the plant’s closure. Effects Bargaining is the obligation of a company to bargain over the impact of a shutdown, a reduction in the workforce or other changed conditions which occur while a collective bargaining agreement is in place.

McCall said that the union will fight to keep the plant running and praised the 330 members of Local 820L for their solidarity and dedication to achieve fairness at the bargaining table and on the shop floor throughout the dispute.

“Our union will not let this management team off the hook for its obligations to our members under the law,” McCall said. “Once our members are back to work, we will continue our fight for justice in Jackson.”