To: All BMRF/B&P Employees
The Company has received several questions from our employees regarding potential strike / lockout scenarios. As such, we are providing the information below to address work stoppage questions.
The Basics
- The Union is required to provide the Company with two advanced written notices before initiating a strike or work stoppage of any kind.
- First, the Union must issue a seventy-five day strike notice after contract expiration.
- Second, the Union must issue a twenty-four hour strike notice after the expiration of the aforementioned seventy-five day strike notice to allow for a safe and orderly transition of work.
- The Union may issue the twenty-four hour strike notice at any time following the expiration of the seventy-five day strike notice.
- Once the seventy-five day and twenty-four hour notices have both expired, the Union may call bargaining unit employees out on strike.
- Ratification of a new agreement would null and void any outstanding strike/lockout notices.
Our Site
Consistent with the requirements outlined above, the Union issued a seventy-five day advanced written notice of a strike on February 15. Later that day, the Company issued a seventy-five day advanced written notice of a lockout to the Union. This means that any time after April 30th, the Union can provide the Company with a twenty-four hour strike notice. At that time, the Company will also have the right to lock-out employees.
It is our sincere hope that the USW Local 13-243 will allow its members the opportunity to vote on the Company’s current offer; however, the Company will be prepared to maintain operations if an agreement cannot be reached prior to April 30.