(AKRON, NEW YORK) – A last-minute effort by ownership to sway its Union-represented Employees failed as Whiting Door Manufacturing Corporation Workers voted 141-to-79 on Tuesday (September 6th) to keep the United Steelworkers (USW) as their Bargaining Representative.

In what just may have been the first such Union Decertification Election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Western New York Labor History, nearly double the number of those who voted against the Union ensured USW Local 748 will continue representing the company’s 260 Employees.

A Union-driven outreach effort - which was assisted by the USW International and USW District 4 Office, combined with an Anti-Union flier from Company Vice President Alexandra Whiting that apparently rubbed a number of Workers the wrong way, led to the final outcome, Local 748 President Fred Drahms told WNYLaborToday.com.

“It ‘certainly was an important factor in the final vote.’ ‘A lot of (Members) told me (the company’s) memo was the final straw, that it was a power trip,’” Drahms said of the flier, which attacked the Union and its Leadership on a number of levels.

“A couple of days before the vote we had final numbers of around (120) ‘yes’s, which wasn’t enough - we thought.’ So, ‘we kept hitting the pavement (contacting and talking to individual Members) and in the end we thought if we got (140), we’re gold - and that was almost dead on,’” Drahms said.

USW District 4 Sub-District Director Joe Vertalino told WNYLaborToday.com: “The Local ‘worked hard to turn the tide and I’m relieved the Membership voted the way they did.’ The Workers ‘determined - in the end - they were better off with a Union.’ The (company memo) ‘did play a role (in the final vote), but we will continue to build a working relationship with the company and serve our Members the best we can.’ ‘No doubt this has served as a victory that will lead to more Unionization of Workers in the Western New York area.’”

Whiting Door is said to be original manufacturer of roll-up doors for the Transportation Industry that began operations back in 1953. Over the years, the company - which focuses on designing and manufacturing doors that are easy to install, operate and maintain, has grown to become the leading supplier of roll-up doors in the Industry, according to information posted on its website.

Drahms said the decertification effort was led by a number of younger Members “who (felt) they would be better off dealing with the company on their own.”

Some apparently were not happy about the fact that they had to pay a bit more into their health coverage after the company held firm and wouldn’t budge on a negotiated cap, he added.

Both Drahms and Vertalino said plans are in the works to invest the time in an education effort for Local 748’s Membership - especially targeting its young Members, who may not understand what Unions do for Workers and how important they are in the workplace.

“I am going to be meeting with our Executive Board and will reach out to the (Member Decertification) petitioner and try to work with our other Members,” Drahms told WNYLaborToday.com. “We’ll ‘also look to arrange multiple get-togethers’ with our Members, ‘break bread with them, put faces to our names and find out what they are thinking.’”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More On This Labor News Report, Read: ‘With Some Under the Illusion They Could Bargain For Better Wages Themselves,’ Workers Employed At Whiting Door In Erie County ‘Will Participate In A Roll Of The Dice’ Union Decertification Election This Week - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York