As employees represented by United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7949 start to return to work at Fenner Dunlop, USW Local 7949 President Melissa Puccini-Lott, who led negotiations and the lock-out effort, has released the following statement:
“This was a very difficult process for Local 7949 members. It was our first labour dispute ever, since we formed the union in 1987 and I’m relieved and happy that it’s now over. People are looking forward to getting their lives back on track and having some stability. We are so thankful for the community support we received during these long, hard months.”
The employees were initially locked out of their workplace after turning down a final contract offer from the company. A back-to-work protocol was negotiated by the union, which means members will return to work during a gradual phase-in over the next three weeks to a month.
