Workers At Former GE Transportation Plant In Erie Hit The Picket Lines
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ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- Workers at the former GE Transportation plant in northwestern Pennsylvania have gone on strike a day after completion of a merger between GE and Wabtec.
The Erie Times-News reports that employees at the plant now owned by Wabtec (the former Westinghouse Airbrakes Technologies Corp.) hit the picket line in Lawrence Park Township early Tuesday.
Leaders of UE Locals 506 and 618 said in a statement that they were unable to convince the company to negotiate what they called an "acceptable short term agreement that preserves the wages, benefits, and working conditions" for the 1,700 employees.
A Wabtec representative said the company was "very disappointed" and the strike will hurt union members and the Erie community.
Saturday's strike authorization vote was the first approved at the plant since 1969.
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