Except it hasn't gotten nearly the coverage that Market Basket did:
"Ipswich manufacturer workers strike" by Megan WoolhouseGlobe Staff November 27, 2014
About 50 machinists, welders, and other workers have launched a strike against a North Shore manufacturing company in a dispute over benefits and other contract provisions.
The workers, members of United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America Local 279, picketed Weir Valves & Controls, USA Inc. in Ipswich through Wednesday’s snowstorm, protesting what they said were management's efforts to increase their health care costs and change rules governing seniority, overtime, and hiring.
“It comes down to job preservation,” said Kevin McPherson, union president and a full-time valve technician. “If they have to lay off workers when production slows down, they’ll replace us with temporary employees instead of recalling those workers.”
That's bu$ine$$!
A spokesman for Weir’s Scottish parent company, Weir Group PLC, said in a statement the company was “disappointed” by the actions of its Ipswich employees, who went on strike Nov. 20 after three weeks of contract negotiations.
The company, which said it continues to supply customers, wants to resume talks.
“The company looks forward to the opportunity to find a solution which ensures fairness for our people and maintains the company’s competitiveness,” according to the statement.
Weir Valves, formerly Atwood and Morrill, is part of a global manufacturing conglomerate that makes parts for the nuclear power and energy industry. Weir acquired Atwood and Morrill in 1990, according to a company history.
Atwood and Morrill got its start making parts for New England mills, then valves for Navy ships in World War II and nuclear power parts in the 1950s. Weir moved the company to Ipswich from Salem in 2008. The Ipswich facility exports valves and other products primarily to China.
A shrinking nuclear power industry and slowing global demand for its products, exacerbated by the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan, have led the company to cut costs and reorganize at locations worldwide. Weir Group has operations in more than 70 countries.
Ipswich workers, including many who have worked for the firm for decades, said they are an integral part of the company’s 100-year legacy in Massachusetts.
That means nothing now.
Jim Cahill of Beverly, a maintenance employee of more than 37 years, said the company’s proposals to make employees pay more for health care are unfair without an increase in pay, as are new policies that give newer employees fewer retirement benefits.
“It isn’t fair to the young guy who’s starting to raise a family right now,” the 57-year-old said. “It’s a good living, but it’s slowly deteriorating.”
He said it is the second time in his career that workers for the company have gone on strike. The first time was in 1986, when workers and management also battled over who should bear health care cost increases.
That dispute ended when both sides agreed to a smaller-than-planned increase and a cap on future increases.
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I would be careful walking around Ipswich.
Come to think of it, after the MB strike ended the Globe basically stopped shopping there.
