|The Right to Strike |
|Mini Case 3 |
Seven of the employer’s 11 concrete truck drivers met several times during the week of September 16 to discuss their current wage rates, the lack of a medical insurance plan, and whether they should consider joining a union. Four of seven employees signed union authorization cards after meeting a representative of the national truck drivers’ union. Seven employees presented to the company’s plant manager on Friday September 20. The letter stated, “Today all employees wish to express a silent strike in pursuance of the right that our salaries be increased to $5.75 per hour. We will not work today… until an accord is reached.”
The company president meet with seven employees and told them that the company was in no position to give any wage increase; however, steps were already underway to establish a medical insurance plan by the end of the year. The seven employees met outside of the plant and decided the company’s position was unacceptable.
The board of directives met on Saturday and calculated the annual cost of the employees’ wage demand to be $108,000. The board of directors found this unacceptable and decide to replace the seven drivers rather than agree to increase wages. Later the plant manager offered driver positions to individuals of the company that had job applications on file. Monday the seven drivers returned but remained outside of the plant entrance. The company president prepared a letter after learning that the seven drivers did not report to work at 8am but were instead congregating in front
References: Holley, W., Jennings, K., & Wolters, R. (2012). The Labor Relations Process (10th ed). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.