Local 1720 Wins
Union Busting Fails in Illinois

Rockford area UAW members support Local 1720.

In early January 2000, Kysor/Westran in Byron, Ill., was bought by its closest competitor, Bergstrom of Rockford, Ill.

Although Bergstrom sat down at the bargaining table with Local 1720, it was obvious that it was out to break this 31-year-old local union.

With negotiations going nowhere, the membership was forced to vote for a strike. But after several months of cold weather, scabs, and union busting tactics by management, the members returned to work under the expired agreement and began the challenging task of showing management that they couldn’t be defeated so easily.

Management, however, thought they had the upper hand. They began changing job assignments, treating employees differently depending on who they were, and trying desperately to divide this group of workers.

Finally, management arranged for a decertification election to be held on July 20. To insure a victory, they hired new workers in an attempt to stack the vote in their favor.

But what they didn’t count on was the power of this membership’s solidarity. Each day members talked to their new coworkers about the benefits of belonging to the UAW. As the day of the election got closer, “Union Yes” signs grew in the parking lot.

On the day before the vote, more than 75 UAW members from the Rockford area stood outside the plant to show support for their brothers and sisters of Local 1720. “We are union” was the chant heard from both inside and outside the facility, as management walked around with grim looks on their faces.

After the votes were counted that Friday, International Representative George Campa couldn’t hold back a broad grin as he delivered the news. The members had won a 62-percentage point victory. Members shook hands, cheered and laughed in relief at the solid win.

Others instrumental in helping Local 1720 in its victory were Assistant Director Al Weygand, Local 95 member Jose Carrillo, and International Representatives Mike Flores, Chuck Kearney and Polly Byrne.

The next step for Local 1720 is to take its momentum and sit down with management from a position of strength to work out a relationship.

Chris Remhof
Local 592

Next: Director's Report