By BY MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER-Managing editor
After a local labor union spent nearly a month on strike, Citation Corporation announced this week that it has resolved all outstanding issues with the labor union representing the employees at the Brewton facility.
According to a statement from James M. Gordon, corporate director at Citation, a majority of those attending a meeting called Local 98 of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union, ratified the new four-year labor agreement on Thursday, July 7.
The local 98 GMP Union went on strike just weeks after Citation emerged from bankruptcy. Strikers said the company's new contract was unfair with what they offered and they were pushed to strike. Strikers stood their ground in mind-numbing heat and rainstorms, taking a break for the Fourth of July holiday. They could be seen scattered at the four main gates of Citation.
Evelyn Johnson, a union representative, said in an earlier interview that "we're on strike because they don't want to give us a raise, upgrade our insurance to include a 401 K plan or pay us overtime."
A Citation spokesman stated "We are happy that the employees of the Brewton facility voted for the new contract. We believe that it gives the company the flexibility to operate in a cost effective manner, which will assist us in meeting our customer's demands and help us in continuing to provide good jobs for our Brewton employees. We look forward to working together for the next four years."
The last time the union members went on strike was three years ago. The strike lasted for three days.
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.