UPDATE: Mercury union overwhelmingly rejects contract changes
The Reporter Staff • August 23, 2009
By a “wide margin” more than 800 union employees have said “no” to a final contract proposal offered by Mercury Marine.
Specific numbers were not released by union officials early this afternoon.
The vote this morning has followed weeks of negotiations that culminated Thursday when company officials said a “yes” vote by the union would keep the company in Fond du Lac and a “no” vote would move the company to consolidate operations in Stillwater, Okla.
Late last week, company officials said the deadline for a final decision from the union is later this week, leaving the door open for another vote by union members.
“Obviously we are extremely disappointed in the outcome of the vote,” said Joe Reitemeier, president and CEO of the Fond du Lac Area Association of Commerce, shortly after hearing the results of this morning’s vote.
The results were released about 12:15 p.m.
“We would hope that the fact that the contract offer doesn’t expire until next weekend that that would provide some opportunity for a second vote or a reconvening of the negotiations,” Reitemeier said.
He said he doesn’t think the concessions or contract changes sought by the company are unreasonable.
“I think it’s realistic,” he said. “The company needs to be in a position of managing its own destiny and being able to react quickly to market changes. There is a realty that they have been facing and that is that the product they produce is typically purchased with disposable income and current economic conditions as well as what they anticipate for the future for the marine industry dictate that there needs to be dramatic changes in the way they conduct business.”
Reitemeier said he is now waiting to hear what the union has to say about continuing negotiations with Mercury officials.
“I’m waiting to get some element of hope that maybe there is another avenue of opportunity out there,” he said