Plant strike leads American Standard to move production

By Don Shilling

Between 20 and 30 union jobs will be lost permanently.

SALEM — A strike at the American Standard plant in Salem has caused the company to move production of a bathtub line to another plant.

The company said Wednesday that between 20 and 30 jobs will be eliminated from the local plant permanently. Bathtub molds were moved from the plant.

Keeping a supply of products to customers is critical, and the line being moved is high-volume sales item, the company said.

“We still believe in our vision of long-term sustainability for the Salem plant and will do what we can to preserve jobs here,” said Paul Lee, plant manager, “However, we will do whatever we must to ensure we continue to meet our customers’ needs.”

Officials with United Steelworkers of America Local 1538 could not be reached to comment.

About 340 union workers walked off the job Friday in a contract dispute. No talks have been held since then.

Tracy Benson Kirker, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey-based manufacturer, said limited production of bathtubs and sinks is continuing at the Salem plant. She said some union workers have crossed the picket line.

The company said it is welcoming workers to return to work under terms of its latest offer. The company called that its “best and final” offer.

Workers rejected it because it included a 5 percent wage reduction, smaller company contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts and higher health-care contributions from workers.

The average wage at the plant under the company’s offer would be $17 an hour, Kirker said.

She said no replacement workers have been brought in but that remains an option. The plant has nearly 30 salaried workers.

When asked if moving other work from the plant was possible, Kirker said the company would keep all options open in order to meet its customers’ needs.

shilling@vindy.com