[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SALUTING THE CARGILL SALT MINERS OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL NO. 436 IN THEIR 
 STRUGGLE TO RETAIN REPRESENTATION AND END A LOCK-OUT DESPITE COMPANY 
                       EFFORTS TO BREAK THE UNION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 1, 2003

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the members of 
Teamsters Local No. 436. This racially and ethnically diverse group of 
salt miners constitutes the bargaining unit at Cargill's Cleveland salt 
mine in Ohio's 10th Congressional District. Many of them are locked out 
of the mine in a labor dispute, the outcome of which will have major 
implications for working men and women everywhere.
  In May 2002, the salt miners went on strike. Between May and August, 
the miners and the company met on several occasions to resolve the 
dispute and draft a mutually agreeable labor contract. On August 13, 
2002, while still engaged in good faith negotiations with Cargill, the 
union miners made an unconditional offer to return to work. When the 
miners attempted to return to their jobs, they learned that Cargill 
hired permanent replacement workers who were either hired before August 
13, or their dates of hiring were backdated prior to August 13. All but 
26 of the union miners were locked out. The hiring of replacement 
workers in this manner violates the National Labor Relations Act as an 
act of bad faith in labor negotiations.
  Shortly after the lockout, one of the replacement workers filed a 
decertification petition with the National Labor Relations Board. In a 
strong show of support, the working and locked out union miners showed 
up at the mine at 6:00 in the morning on April 10, 2003, to support the 
union. One locked out miner drove 150 miles from Columbus for the vote 
while another left his hospital bed to vote. The result of the election 
was a 63-58 victory for the union. Even though the Cargill-supported 
replacement workers appealed the election, the union workers again 
rallied to oppose the decertification and voted 64-61 to retain the 
union.
  The union workers have my full support. The replacement workers, too, 
should understand that the good pay and benefits they enjoy at Cargill 
were hard-fought by the Teamsters locally and the national organized 
labor movement in general. Once the union is gone, no one will be there 
to represent them in gaining and retaining their pay, rights, and 
benefits. Unions are good for workers and companies alike. I support 
the union workers' efforts to stop the decertification of their union 
and to end the lock-out so they can return to work as soon as possible. 
I call on Cargill to accept the democratic process built into our 
nation's labor law, accept the will of the workers to retain union 
representation, and return immediately to good faith negotiations with 
the Teamsters.

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