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Wisconsin Factory Workers
Finally Settle Contract

September 21, 2005

Winning a representation election is good, but without a signed contract that lays out wages, hours and working conditions, a union cannot be effective.

That’s why more than 300 workers at Waukesha Electric Systems in Wisconsin are especially pleased these days. After a year and a half of difficult negotiations, the Milwaukee Local 2150 members finally have a contract of their own.

The three-year contract, which covers 320 members, was ratified in August. It guarantees workers whose wages had been frozen for four years a pay increase in the first year of the contract. Negotiations were hobbled by the presence of representatives of labor busting law firm Jackson Lewis, who had been retained during the IBEW campaign. Maintaining market surveys showed its workers were overpaid, the company attempted to negotiate $4-$6 per hour pay cuts.

The new unit of Local 2150 members employed by Waukesha Electric Systems ratifies their first contract.

The parties were finally able to come to terms when a mediator was called in during the final stages of negotiations.

During the long negotiation process, unit members were buoyed by one-another. One member purchased 200 T-shirts on his own dime to hand out and keep up the spirits of his co-workers. “The employees remained steadfast in their determination to be represented by Local 2150 and throughout the process, their solidarity continued to grow,” said Local 2150 organizer Randy Sawicki.

Waukesha Electric Systems produces medium- and large-sized transformers sold to utilities throughout the United States and overseas. After a period of slow business, the company is on the rebound due to increased spending by utilities, most of which are represented by IBEW members. Rebuilding efforts in the Gulf states due to the massive devastation of Hurricane Katrina will particularly benefit Waukesha.

Workers reached a contract 18 months after they voted for IBEW representation.

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