Long Strike Predicted : Machinists at Solar Hit the Picket Line
Nearly 1,000 machinists at Solar Turbine Inc. walked out Monday, claiming their company’s new contract offer is “radical and unreasonable,” leaving both sides preparing for what may be a long strike, a union official said.
“We spent most of Sunday afternoon trying to negotiate further, to set up another date for talks,” said Matthew McKinnon, business representative for the International Assn. of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Lodge 685.
“But they (Solar management) only want to talk about their last proposal,” McKinnon said. “And there is no way we’re going to sign that offer. That’s out of the question.”
Negotiations for a new contract, which started May 29, have stalemated over numerous issues, including wages, job security, pensions, hiring policies and quality control, McKinnon said.
Picket Lines
On Monday, strikers set up picket lines at Solar Turbine’s two San Diego manufacturing plants: one by San Diego Bay, the other in Kearny Mesa. The international company is known for production of turbine engines for oil and gas exploration.
“We have about 20 workers picketing at each plant and we’ll be rotating shifts as the days go on,” McKinnon said. “In the meanwhile, the committee has instructed the others about places where they may find work, about food programs and where they can get medical benefits.”
The small number of pickets has helped to keep trouble from brewing at the plants, said company spokeswoman Val DeWitt-Ruiz.
“The union has been professional. So far it’s been very peaceful and quiet,” DeWitt-Ruiz said. “Nothing but a few words have been exchanged by those on strike and those that have crossed the picket line.”
Although the union claims 972 workers are on strike, DeWitt-Ruiz could not confirm that figure.
“It’s going to take a while for that to be completed, and with figures coming in from both sides, it’s difficult to say exactly how many people are on strike,” DeWitt-Ruiz said.
Although no temporary laborers have been hired to replace those who have departed, DeWitt-Ruiz said such action will be conducted “as needed.”
Anticipating a strike, the company had prepared in advance to reduce the daily work schedule from three shifts to one, DeWitt-Ruiz said. She said a date to increase shifts to normal has not been determined.
“I have been told the company can maintain our current one-shift schedule indefinitely, and there is no indication of a change,” she said.
