A stewing labor dispute bubbled into public view Thursday as workers at energy giant Exxon Mobil Corp. protested outside the company’s sprawling research facility in Hunterdon County, N.J., over what they say is bad-faith bargaining.þAt least 50 people in red union T-shirts picketed outside the Exxon Mobil Research and Engineering Technology Center at two entrances, one along busy Route 22.þþMembers of the Independent Laboratory Employees Union, which includes about 40 who commute from the Lehigh Valley, say the energy giant has failed to bargain in good faith since contract negotiations began about a year ago. The sides have held bargaining sessions, most recently in April. Another is planned for Tuesday.þ“The membership is fed up,” union President Michael G. Myers said. “[Exxon’s] got the big pocketbooks; we’re the little ones here. And if they’re comfortable doing this, we’ve got to bring attention to it.”þþThe union has filed unfair labor practice charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board. One hearing was held in March, but no decision has been reached.þAsked for comment, company spokeswoman Sarah A. Nordin did not respond to the union’s claim, and instead referred to information on the company’s website.þþOn it, the company says it expects the NLRB decision in three to six months, and that it would not affect bargaining. The latest contract expired June 21, the website says, and “operations are continuing as normal.”þþ“This is an unfair labor practices strike,” said Paul Madiara of Upper Saucon Township, a senior research technician who has worked for the company nearly four decades and was among those protesting outside. “It’s not about economics. It’s about the company not bargaining fairly with us.”þWages have been an issue, leaders representing the 190 union members say, as have personal time off and contracting out union jobs. The workers, who include research technicians, electricians and mechanics, earn an average $38 an hour.þ“This is not for just me in the short term,” said Beth Walker of Stockertown, a senior research technician who has been at the facility 12 years. “This is for the entire union. We’re thinking of everyone coming after us and making sure we have jobs going forward.”þþWorkers planned another walkout Friday, before returning to work Monday ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled talks.þAnd then? “We’re going to see how this goes,ÿ said Thomas Fredriksen, the union’s vice president.þþThe Exxon Mobil facility in Clinton Township has about 1,100 employees. It’s about 20 miles from Easton.þOn its website, the company identifies the facility as a primary research hub supporting all its major business lines. Exxon Mobil ranks No. 2 on the Fortune 500, with a net profit of nearly $20 billion on revenues of $244 billion.
Source: www.mcall.com
