U.S. Rep. Steve Lynch, a former ironworker, joined the crowd and told the Teamsters to fight for what they believe in. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO pledged its support. And Local 25 President Sean O'Brien told the CertainTeed workers they will have health care until the end of the strike, no matter how long it lasts.
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| Rep. Lynch and President O'Brien |
Here's a recent story from Wicked Local Norwood about the dispute:
“No one wants to strike in this economy, especially during the holiday season, but CertainTeed gave us no choice,” Teamsters Local 25 President and Principal Officer Sean O’Brien said on.
“The company has become the epitome of greed, treating its workforce unfairly without regard for health and welfare and job security. Our members have been here day in and day out to send a message to CertainTeed, and we’ll continue into the new year if that is what it takes to get CertainTeed to return to the negotiating table.”
Ninety members of Teamsters Local 25 are employed at CertainTeed, and were in the process of negotiating a contract with the company, as their contract expired on Monday, Dec. 19 at 12:01 a.m.
The main point of disagreement was over employee health insurance. O’Brien said CertainTeed offered union employees a $1,000 bonus to offset worker’s health insurance, an offer he compared to “getting coal in your stocking.”@Teamsters25 is doing a great job live-tweeting the action. Here's how it's done:
Hundreds of members already at CertainTeed for rally #norwood #teamster #mapoli #maunion
Cong Lynch tells #Teamsters to keep fighting for what they believe in #maunion
MA AFL-CIO pledges full support to #Teamsters Local 25 ag CertainTeed #maunion #mapoli
