Local Auto Parts Workers Authorize Strike

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 876 working at Continental Coatings in China Township Michigan overwhelming voted yesterday to reject their employer's final contract offer and authorize any action up to and including a strike.

"We fully support the membership at Continental Coatings and are in the process of applying for strike sanction from our international union," Roger Robinson, Local 876's president, said. "Even in these tough economic times, Continental Coatings workers deserve better than the company's last offer. These workers are already compensated below the industry standard, to ask them to take even less is just plain wrong."

The concessionary contract offer called for dramatic increases in the employees' health insurance costs, no meaningful wage increases to their current base wage rates of $10 -$11 per hour, and reductions in paid time off.

Continental Coatings employs 80 auto parts and assembly workers at the China Township plant located at 4664 Puttygut Road. The company also operates Continental Plastics, molding injection and assembly plants located in Fraser and Chesterfield employing over 200 Local 876 members.

A contract vote is scheduled next week at Continental Plastics, presenting the possibility for the labor dispute to escalate.

UFCW Local 876 represents over 17,000 workers in eastern and northern Michigan including employees at Kroger, CVS, Rite Aid, and numerous commercial work sites. The UFCW International is among the largest private sector unions in the country with over 1.4 million members.

SOURCE United Food and Commercial Workers Local 876