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Union workers on strike at Brentwood Originals
TweetUnion workers on strike at Brentwood Originals
YOUNGSTOWN —About 180 workers at Brentwood Originals walked off the job this morning in a dispute over pay and medical benefits.
United Steelworkers of America Local 1-598 called the strike at the North Meridian Road plant after granting a one-month extension to their last contract, which expired Feb. 6. Brentwood Originals, which is based in California, makes decorative pillows.
The company offered raises of 95 cents an hour over four years and unspecified improvements to health care, said Hattie Wilkins, local president. Workers want larger raises and a lower deductible for health insurance, she said. Workers earn between $9.15 and $10.57 an hour. The company pays all of their insurance premiums, but there is no family coverage.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.
Comments
I used to work at brentwood, as did my husband, and we cant figure out what they are complaining about. It was a clean, easy job. They pay well, a lot better than most comparable jobs in this area. You have a union and benefits/. I think that they are spoiled and have forgotten how lucky they are, they need to quit whining and be greatful, and get back to their hard job...lol..
Just what we need, another black eye for Y-town. One way of increasing salaries is to increase the number of companies competing for workers. If you drive companies away from the area, or you create an unfriendly environment for job growth, you will not see growth in area wages.
The unions are the very cause of the valleys decline. No wonder employers are afraid to relocate here. Brentwood will probably pack up and leave too. Are they so blind that they cannot see?
wow, when i worked there in 2002 they only made 7.75 and hour, so theyre up to 9.15, hmmm, doesnt sound too bad to me, for one of the easiest jobs i ever had