Labor strife harmful

MARGARETTA TWP. — Hourly employees at Ventra have been working without a labor pact for months, and the contract battle has been "toxic and harmful to both parties and the community," according to the union president "It is not unique or uncommon that these hardships arise during bargaining," United Auto Workers Local 1216 president Brett Whyde wrote in a letter to union members. "There have been numerous labor charges filed on behalf of our local membership. I have four grievances headed to arbitration and am battling the pandemic protocols with all of my union brothers and sisters by working hand in hand with (the union vice president) and UAW staff." Whyde expressed concern in the letter that the grievances, the arbitrations and the COVID precautions showcase "the damaged relationship between the Local UAW and Ventra Sandusky." He also complained about remarks some union members made in a news story in the Register on Tuesday. "To see the harm that this article has and can cause is extremely inappropriate and underserving. It does not help our situation whatsoever," he wrote. Whyde does not respond to inquiries from the Register. Earlier this week, one employee asked "where was Whyde" and suggested union members were being kept in the dark about contract negotiations. The Register fielded several calls from other employees expressing concerns about working without a contract and whether there might be a strike. There were other calls to the newsroom after Tuesday's article from employees who disagreed about whether the membership was being kept informed and said Whyde was providing updates. In the letter sent Dec. 2, Whyde reassured members. "The statement that members are not hearing anything from anyone is just not true. I have posted a letter with updates regarding topics which include bargaining weekly. The last letter was dated Nov. 25, which is seven days since my last correspondence not two months as the Register article stated," he wrote. Whyde said he and the bargaining team have and will continue to work out of the union hall until a tentative contract agreement is reached. "We have done everything within our authority at our level to get the company back to the table," Whyde wrote in the Nov. 25 letter. "Again, we have turned down what the company has offered and continue to do our best to bring the membership an acceptable proposal that we will be proud to work under." A virtual meeting with company officials is scheduled for Thursday, he wrote. Whyde also addressed the union's previous strike vote after the earlier contract offers were voted down. "There have also been some questions regarding why we even took a strike vote and what our strike status is," he wrote. "A strike has to be authorized by Detroit for legal reasons." Whyde said the local bargaining team was awaiting a response from UAW officials to Local 1216's strike vote. Employees at Ventra told the Register the starting wage presently is $18 to $19 per hour and higher depending on job classifications. They said the company's previous contract offers included a raise but the pay hikes would not be retroactive. The employees who contacted the Register also said there was a $1,500 signing bonus and $500 end-of-year bonuses included in the prior contract offers. There are 2,000 to 2,200 hourly workers at Ventra Sandusky, a Flex-N-Gate company, which is the former Ford Motor Co. plant on Tiffin Avenue. The factory makes headlamps and rear light fixtures for Ford.