> Has Powell's made peace with its union?
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> Doug
"The workers of Powell’s Books have overwhelmingly voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached on March 2nd. Negotiations begun in early July 2003 bogged down after company demands for drastic shift in healthcare costs and cuts to wage increases.
The newly ratified contract preserves affordable healthcare benefits for Powell’s workers with only modest premium increases. The agreement also provides two percent annual wage increases and stronger contract language to protect workers on the job.
The two sides reached the deal after eight months of sometimes contentious barganing ending in several sessions with a federal mediator. Local 5 members had been working without a contract since October 1, 2003 and walked off the job in two daylong strikes last fall after charging management with violating labor law. They also held numerous rallies and informational pickets with the support of our friends in the community."