Local 2704 Ratifies Contract, Ends Strike

Members of Local Lodge 2704 in Williston, Vermont, ratified a new contract with employer Velan Valve after a five day strike and returned to duty on Monday, October 7th.

The strike and subsequent negotiations, led by District 4 Business Representatives (BR) Jay Wadleigh and Dan Loudermilk, ended in a new two-year contract with numerous improvements including guaranteed wage increases of two percent each year, pension increases each year, and members successfully held the line to eliminate the contentious new language regarding temporary workers.

Additionally, members now have an option for a zero premium health insurance plan.

Numerous other improvements to the contract include a severance package for laid off employees, an option for early retirement with benefits, and improvements to the longevity clause in the contract which improves the wages of long-time employees based upon years of service.

The contract also establishes a six-person technology committee made up of three union members and three company representatives to give the membership a voice in new technology brought into the workplace.

District 4 Directing Business Representative Rick Compher expressed his pride in the membership and staff, “The membership stood strong in the face of a difficult decision to the let the company hear their voice. Tremendous job by the Local Lodge leadership and a tremendous job by Jay and Dan.”

Velan Valve did make a gesture of good faith; during the course of the strike, a member’s child was injured when their hand was caught in a car door and had to be taken to the emergency room. Upon the ratification of the contract, the company agreed to cover the cost of the child’s visit to the doctor.