'As long as it takes': After more than 7 months, local UAW members continue strike at Case plant in Racine
STURTEVANT, Wis. (CBS 58) -- On May 2, roughly 1,000 United Auto Workers members walked out of CNH Industrial-owned Case plants in Racine County and Burlington, Iowa, demanding a fair, competitive contract. On Dec. 13, over seven months later, an agreement has yet to be reached.
"At this point, things are kind of at a standstill," explained UAW Local 180 President Yasin Mahdi. "We're just looking to get a fair agreement. I believe that fairness would be at least to compete with other manufacturers in the area."
“We are disappointed that despite our best efforts we have been unable to reach a tentative agreement for our employees," said Rebecca Fabian, with CNH Industrial. "Our last, best and final offer for our Racine, Wisconsin and Burlington, Iowa plants included significant wage increases, the addition of three new and different health care plans to choose from and many other enhanced benefits. Since April and throughout the UAW-initiated strike, we have been negotiating in good faith to reach an agreement that is fair and reasonable to our employees, our company and our customers."
Along with competitive contracts with other manufacturers in the area, Mahdi says he wants to see better vacation time for his members and even profit-sharing options.
"Last, best and final offer from the company; Sept. 29," Mahdi explained. "Accepting that last, best and final offer would be a huge disservice to our membership. They elected us to carry their best interests forward and bringing that to a vote would not be carrying their best interest forward."
The company has continued to produce tractors and other equipment with replacement workers. In November, CNH Industrial's CEO Scott Wine reported the company saw a net income of $559 million, compared to $460 million in 2021.
"The company has the money to end this," Mahdi said. "The farmers and customers are going to be the ones that get hurt because if they don't have us in there making that product, then I'm sure that the quality is not there. These tools that these farmers buy end up breaking in the field and that's costing them money, and as a result of that, they'll go somewhere else to buy tractors."
Mahdi says right now, roughly 600 members are striking here in Wisconsin, including Steven Lukawski, a 25-year veteran of the plant.
"It'd be nice to get back in and work, but the company needs to know that we've been, our contract, we've been underpaid for a long time and our benefits are falling behind," Lukawski said. "If they would come out and give us a fair contract, we would go back and make quality tractors again; right now."
Lukawski admits the labor dispute has taken some of the light out of the holiday season.
"It's touch. It makes Christmas a lot less and a lot of people are having to go out and get new jobs, part-time jobs to fill the gaps," Lukawski said. "Three kids are all adults, but we've got grandkids coming and all that. It's a difficult time for me. I know for a lot of the younger people, it's real difficult."
Mahdi says despite the difficulties, he's confident his side will get a fair agreement, whenever that may be.
"As long as it takes," Mahdi said. "When you get presented with a last, best and final, it's either a take it or leave it situation and there wasn't much there for us to take, so we had to leave it."
This Saturday, UAW Local 180 is hosting a day of solidarity and will be accepting donations of hand and foot warmers, non-perishable food items and gift cards, and Christmas presents for striking members' families.
The event runs from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at 3323 Kearney Avenue in Racine.