Manufacturing Staff On Strike At Fairbanks Scales In St. Johnsbury

A big portion of Fairbanks Scales’ local workforce walked out Tuesday afternoon and were picketing Wednesday morning after negotiations for a new contract broke down with management.

The 67 members of U.E. Local 234, a chapter of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America at the Fairbanks facility on Route 2 East in St. Johnsbury, voted to go on strike after their current contract expired on Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.

The local union members constitute a little over half of Fairbanks’ St. Johnsbury workforce and are the only unionized workforce within Fairbanks’ national organization.

On Wednesday morning dozens of the union members formed a picket line at the entrance to the facility waving signs, chanting and cheering as passing vehicles honked. They had a camper with a generator set up across the street and burned scrap wood in a 50-gallon barrel for warmth at the roadside picket line.

The union members said there were differences with management over wages, health benefits and time off.

“The company has failed to put forward a fair wage increase; failed to respond to a number of benefit proposals and jacked up insurance rates by an amount that would make it unattainable,” said Chad McGinnis, International Representative with United Electrical. “We are unequivocally committed to raising the working standards of all workers.”

McGinnis said the members are hopeful it will be a short strike but the workers need better and fairer contract proposals. “We hope they will negotiate in good faith toward an agreement that works for our members.”

The union members said while the unionized workforce is far smaller at Fairbanks than it has been in the past they are plenty busy, putting in overtime and producing more than ever.

“We just want a fair contract that will work for the company and the union,” said union member and seven-year Fairbanks employee Dan Christman.

A press release issued by the union on Wednesday stated Fairbanks management notified the union on Oct. 31 that it was no longer prepared to offer any proposals to the union. “The Company’s last offer failed to address many of the Union’s key concerns, demanded concessions from the Union, included steep health insurance premium hikes and did not offer adequate wage increases,” stated the release.

Previous contracts, which have been written for three-year terms, have included a 3 percent annual wage increase. The latest contract proposals from Fairbanks did not. The proposals also called for higher employee contributions to insurance premiums, reduced company contributions to health savings accounts and fewer days off, said the union members.

In response to emailed questions, company officials said they would not comment on the specific sticking points in negotiations other than to say that they feel “Fairbanks presented fair and reasonable terms during negotiations.”

The company said many economic factors were considered when forming its proposals and it hopes and expects the contract issues can be quickly resolved.

The union members in St. Johnsbury manufacture Fairbanks’ electronic and light industrial product offerings. Fairbanks spokesperson Ingrid Adel said while the company is disappointed the U.E. members chose to strike normal operations will continue.

Adel also said, “Fairbanks is committed to manufacturing high quality products in our St. Johnsbury facility.”

The U.E. Local 234 has existed at Fairbanks for over 80 years, said Polly Scott, president of U.E. Local 234. The local union chapter previously went on strike in 2002 and before that in 1981, said Scott.

There are 110 total employees at the St. Johnsbury facility. The others are non-union employees serving in a variety of capacities that include engineering, IT, finance and operations. Fairbanks has a second manufacturing facility in Meridian, Mississippi.

Fairbanks Scales’ history is intertwined with that of St. Johnsbury. The company was founded by brothers Thaddeus and Erastus Fairbanks in St. Johnsbury over 180 years ago. The success of the company allowed the Fairbanks family to fund the creation of many prominent institutions within the town, including St. Johnsbury Academy, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and Fairbanks Museum. The company went through a series of mergers and acquisitions in the mid to late 1900s and is now controlled through corporate offices in Kansas City. According to Fairbanks’ website the company has more than 500 employees nationwide and has service centers, distributors and sales offices in 49 states and more than 25 countries.