Approximately 84 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 1297, affiliated with District 54, continue their strike at Libbey Glass in Toledo. The work stoppage began on August 22, following allegations that company leadership failed to bargain in good faith or present a fair contract offer.
U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) recently joined the picket line and sent a letter to Libbey Glass management, urging them to return to negotiations with both the IAM and the United Steelworkers (USW). In her letter, Rep. Kaptur stated: “I understand that Libbey Glass has advanced proposals the unions feel would harm the IAM and USW’s ability to represent their members, remove valid disputes from the grievance and arbitration process, erode protections for workers to exclusively perform their work, and restrict the workers’ ability to strike. I am concerned about these reports, and hope that further negotiation can achieve agreements that foster a new era of labor/management cooperation at Libbey’s Toledo production facilities.”
Union members have raised concerns over mandatory overtime provisions that limit family time, loss of rights and protections for both union and employees, as well as increased health insurance costs. According to union representatives, management has not engaged in meaningful negotiations or offered an improved contract since the start of the strike.
