Unions Will Fight to Keep Danaher Tool in Springfield

Union officials for the Boilermakers and IUE-CWA, the two unions that represent about 280 workes at Danaher Tool Group in Springfield, are laying plans to save the company's Springfield operation and keep it from moving to Texas and Arkansas. "Danaher tool presented this to us as a proposed plant closing," said Stanley Pszczola, president of the Boilermakers Local 1570 which represents about 25 workers at the plant. "We are going to see what we can do to keep the plant open without giving away the farm."

Pszczola said his union's international union have requested hard numbers from the company to see what the possibilities are for negotiations. He said the union recently posted information on its bulletin board that cited a Wall Street Journal article stating that profits were up over 20% at the company. George Sexton, President of the IUE-CWA union local representing about 250 workers at Danaher, says they have also placed calls to political officials seeking assistance in their initial efforts to save the plant.

"This is going to be a tough nut to crack," Sexton said. In a meeting with company officials yesterday, he said they presented him with figures stating that they would save approximately $7 million by moving their operations to Texas and Arkansas. He stated many workers at the Springfield plant enjoyed benefits such as five weeks paid vacation and higher wages that aren't given at Danaher's other non-union plants. He said, however, if the unions conceded just $2 million dollars in costs, it would have a devestating impact on the workers' quality of life.

The IUE-CWA's contract is due to expire in March. In a statement released by Danaher, they stated that they will be "entering into bargaining over the decision and the impact of this decision with its unions' leadership."