Contract brings Huxley workers more pay, benefits

A storm was brewing in the Pocono Mountains in the summer of 1999, but it wasn’t a snowstorm.

The 130 workers at Huxley Envelope, in the resort town of Mt. Pocono, Pa., had had enough with their management, their pay, their working conditions, and the representation they were receiving from the independent union that the company had brought into the plant when it first opened.

Their backgrounds were as diverse as the United Nations, but they were united in the common cause of bringing respect and fairness back into the workplace.

On June 11, 1999, Huxley workers voted by a solid majority for UAW representation. The new UAW members immediately got busy electing a temporary bargaining committee and drafting contract proposals with their assigned UAW International servicing representatives Kim Blake and Terry Dittes and the president of their amalgamated UAW Local 1561, Frank Tate.

Bargaining began in July 1999. Just four months later, they ratified their first UAW contract. This new agreement included important economic and non-economic gains such as a grievance procedure, arbitration, UAW V-CAP check off, strong language on health and safety, additional personal days off with pay, bereavement pay, jury duty pay, and other economic gains.

They also secured an across-the-board $1 an hour pay raise, additional classification adjustments, a new health insurance plan, and a freeze on assuming increased costs for their health insurance.

To complete the process of becoming fully UAW, the Local 1561 workers at Huxley elected their permanent officers and stewards in February.

Congratulations to Victoria (Tori) Lenkersdorf, Patty Caprio, and Sam Aboulhon on their election to the shop committee. All three attended their first grievance handling class in March. The class was held at the Region 9 sub-regional office in Fort Washington, Pa. It was taught by Region 9 Education Director Sam Williams.

Since the election for UAW representation, the plant population has increased to 150 workers with additional growth expected.

The shop committee is working hard to address the concerns of the membership.

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