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Supporting Teamsters Local 429 and the 45 workers they represent at Arkema manufacturing and research facilities located in Birdsboro/Exeter/ Berks County and whose headquarters are located in downtown Philadelphia, who have been on strike since August 14, 2006 to protest attempts by Arkema to gut the workers’ health insurance, slash their wages and institute other contract cuts and calling on Arkema to come to a fair and reasonable contract with these 45 workers.
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WHEREAS, Arkema is a chemical manufacturing company based in Paris, France and had worldwide sales last year of $6 billion and $1.6 billion in the USA; and
WHEREAS, Arkema has three subsidiaries in the United States; Arkema Chemicals Inc., Altuglass International and Cerexagri and 16 manufacturing and research facilities including the Arkema plant located in Birdsboro/Exeter Township/Berks County; and
WHEREAS, Teamsters Local 429 represents 45 workers at Arkema who hold a variety of positions in the chemical plant including reactor operations, finishing operators and maintenance mechanics; and
WHEREAS, Most of these 45 workers have worked at this plant for over 20 years; and
WHEREAS, The Birdsboro plant runs 24 hours a day and 7 days a week on four shifts; and
WHEREAS, On August 14, 2006, these 45 workers were forced into a work stoppage over company demands for changes in family health care, reducing pay for workers who are forced to work on Saturday and Sunday; and a new discrimination wage plan that pays future workers significantly less and provides inferior retirement and family health care benefits; and
WHEREAS, The Arkema strikers have also garnered local support from the AFL-CIO, Change to Win Federation along with Philadelphia members of the Service Employees Union, Graphic Communications Conference, Seafarers, United Food and Commercial Workers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Trainmen and Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees; and
WHEREAS, Internationally, the Arkema strikers have received support from unionists in Spain, Brazil and France including France’s Confederation Generale du Travail which represents unions throughout France, including the union for employees at French Arkema facilities; and
WHEREAS, On October 3, 2006, a rally was held to show support for these 45 workers in front of Arkema’s main office located in Philadelphia at 2000 Market Street; supporters included over 200 family members, community supporters, political and civic leaders and other union members; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby support Teamsters Local 429 and the 45 workers they represent at Arkema manufacturing and research facilities located in Birdsboro/Exeter/ Berks County and whose headquarters are located in downtown Philadelphia, who have been on strike since August 14, 2006 to protest attempts by Arkema to gut the workers health insurance, slash their wages and institute other contract cuts and calling on Arkema to come to a fair and reasonable contract with these workers.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be sent to George Cornelius, President and Chief Executive Officer of Arkema, Incorporated.
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