By By LYDIA GRIMES-Features writer
Mediators with Citation and the approximately 162 members of local 98 GMP Union at the Brewton facility who are on strike were unable to reach an agreement when they met yesterday, Tuesday, June 28.
The workers officially went on strike June 11, citing their desire for raises, upgrades in their insurance to include a 401K plan, and overtime issues.
When the strike began, a news release issued by Citation headquarters said that the union rejected the company's offer for a new labor agreement following negotiations last week. Headquarter representatives also said that the company made what it "believes to be a fair and reasonable offer based on the economic situation of the industry and the financial results at the facility."
The strikers are gathered in several gate locations around Citation. They are in their third week of the strike and they seem to have adjusted to the hot weather as they stand their ground against what they consider to be unfair conditions.
Evelyn Johnson, representative of the GMP Union Local 98, said Tuesday morning before the meeting that she was hoping for the best.
Other strikers said they didn't think they were asking for too much. Several of them stated that they didn't want to strike but they just wanted what they had before.
The GMP union is an international union that is one of the oldest unions - dating back to the 1840s. The union has membership in 33 states in the United States, as well as members in Canada.
Citation Corporation is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of cast, forged and machined components for the capital and durable goods industries, including automotive and industrial markets.
Citation has approximately 5,000 employees serving 17 divisions in eight states. The company produces aluminum, steel and iron castings, steel forgings, and machined and assembled components for automobiles and light, medium and heavy trucks, off-highway construction equipment, agricultural equipment, pumps, compressors, industrial valves, machine tools, aircraft, oil tools and other durable goods.