About 84 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 1297 at Libbey Glass in Toledo remain on strike, continuing their protest that began on August 22. The union members are demanding fair labor practices after negotiations with company leadership failed to produce a contract offer they find acceptable.
U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) recently joined the picket line and sent a letter to Libbey Glass management, urging them to resume talks with both the IAM and United Steelworkers (USW). In her letter, Rep. Kaptur stated: “I understand that Libbey Glass has advanced proposals the unions feel would harm the IAM and USW’s ability to represent their members, remove valid disputes from the grievance and arbitration process, erode protections for workers to exclusively perform their work, and restrict the workers’ ability to strike,” wrote Rep. Kaptur. “I am concerned about these reports, and hope that further negotiation can achieve agreements that foster a new era of labor/management cooperation at Libbey’s Toledo production facilities.”
The striking workers have cited issues including mandatory overtime rules affecting family time, removal of certain rights and protections for union members, and increased health insurance costs. According to union representatives, Libbey Glass has not offered improved terms or engaged in meaningful bargaining with IAM members.
