Approximately 84 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 1297 at Libbey Glass in Toledo have voted to reject the company’s proposed contract. The union announced that its members will begin a strike starting Friday, August 22 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Union representatives pointed to several concerns as reasons for rejecting the offer, including pay rates, mandatory overtime that limits family time, and increasing health insurance costs.
“Libbey Glass management is failing to remember the significant sacrifices our members accepted to bring the company out of bankruptcy and liquidation in 2019,” said IAM District 54 President and Directing Business Representative T. Dean Wright, Jr. “We stand 100% behind our IAM Local 1297 members as they stand strong against corporate greed and in defense of their families and communities.”
“The entire IAM Union stands shoulder to shoulder with our Local 1297 membership at Libbey Glass,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “We will use every resource necessary to obtain a contract worthy of our membership’s sacrifices for this company.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers represents about 600,000 active and retired workers across various industries in North America, including aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and others in both the United States and Canada.
For more information about the union’s activities or updates on negotiations, visit goIAM.org or follow @IAM_Union on social media.
