(JAMESTOWN) – A Four-Month-Long Strike by Union-Represented Workers at RHI Monofrax in Falconer, Located Just Outside the Western New York City of Jamestown in the State’s Southern Tier, is Now Officially Over.

Membership of the Second of Two Unions That Had Struck - National Conference of Firemen and Oilers Local 266-F, an Affiliate of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - Ratified a New Five-Year Agreement Earlier This Week (Wednesday, February 4th) by a Final Vote of 90 to 18.  The Deal Calls for an Overall 10.5% Wage Increase Over the Life of the Contract and Stops the Company’s From Gaining the Unilateral Ability to Change its Unionized Workers’ Health Plan as it Saw Fit, Fireman/Oilers International Union Representative Dean DeVita Tells WNYLaborToday.com.

“We Were Able to Block Some of (RHI Monofrax’s) ‘Worst’ Demands, Even Though We Had to Provide Givebacks On Our Health Care Coverage,” said DeVita, Who Explained Union Members Agreed to Make Increased Contributions to Their Health Care Coverage in Each Year of the Contract.  “(The Company) Won’t Have Unilateral Okay to Do What ‘They’ Want.  They Will Have to Come to the Union and Negotiate Any Changes.”

Another Key Component of the Negotiations Involved the Removal of More Than 20 Replacement Workers RHI Monofrax Had Hired During the Strike.  All are Being Let Go and Initially, Nearly 90 of the Union-Represented Workforce Represented by the Fireman/Oilers Union Will be Going Back to Work On Monday, February 9th.  The Remaining Membership Will Hopefully be Called Back as “Business Picks Up,” DeVita said.

“The Hold Up On the Agreement Involved the Replacement Workers,” DeVita Told Your On-Line Labor Newspaper. “The Company Would ‘Not Accept’ Our Demands That They be Let Go.  They Initially said ‘No,’ But They Eventually Came Around.”

“This Was an Amazing Situation,” DeVita Told WNYLaborToday.com While Discussing the Strike.  “This is What the Labor Movement is ‘All’ About.  Those Workers Were Out There for Four Months for ‘Principle.’  It’s Amazing How They Stood Together.”

It Was Just Announced Striking Workers Represented by the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) at the RHI Monofrax Facility Ratified a New Five-Year Agreement.  IAM-Represented Workers Return to Work On February 9th.

A Total of 150 Union Workers, Represented by the IAM and Firemen/Oilers, Walked Off the Job On September 29th After Rejecting the Company’s Contract Offer. 

According to the IAM, RHI Monofrax Wanted the Workers to Agree to Massive Increases in Health Care Costs for a Plan With Far Less Coverage, While Giving the Company the Unilateral Ability to Change Plans and Rates as They Saw Fit. 

The Company Also Insisted On Freezing the Defined Benefit Pension and Replacing it With a Standard Matching 401k With Far Less Value, the Unions said.

RHI Monofrax’s Chautauqua County Plant, Which is Located in Falconer, Makes Fusion Cast Refractories That are Primarily Used in the Glass Industry.