By Fred Pace, HD Media
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A labor dispute has resulted in nearly 80 machinists at Union Carbide in South Charleston voting to go on strike Monday after their contract expired Sunday.
Union Carbide Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company.
While striking workers declined to comment Tuesday, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 54 President and Directing Business Representative T. Dean Wright Jr. released a statement regarding the work stoppage.
“Approximately 77 IAM Local 598 members who work at Dow Chemical in South Charleston have taken the difficult step of voting to go on strike to secure fair wages and protect their right to holidays and vacations as part of their benefits package” the statement says, in part.
“Our members working at Dow Chemical perform dangerous jobs that demand appropriate compensation and respect for their labor. They are simply asking for what is fair recognition of the value they bring to the company. We stand in solidarity with our members as they fight for a contract that reflects the true worth of their hard work and commitment to this company.”
