Kohler strikers dismiss CEO's column

Jason Smathers | USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

David Kohler's column prompted a lot of criticism from the strikers picketing Friday who said the Tier B salaries are misrepresented, the company minimizes the importance of the local plant and the threat of moving isn't realistic.

Kohler employee Patrick Hanson kept it succinct when asked for his reaction: "It went straight to my bathroom, where it belongs."

The column, published by the Kohler CEO Wednesday, argued that the contract offered to the Local 833 employees was fair, saying the average wage increase for those with Tier B positions averaged $3 immediately. Kohler also referenced the costs and size of local production in comparison to other plants the company owns, noting the company could move plants elsewhere if the company was solely concerned with profit.

Union President Tim Tayloe was contacted for his reaction, but couldn't be reached as of Friday evening. A secretary for the union said he was on the picket line and hadn't returned to the union hall as of early this evening.

Striking workers interviewed Friday didn't buy Kohler's arguments. Hanson called the possibility of moving production elsewhere a "paper tiger" and argued that with all the money the company has pumped into production locally, it wouldn't make sense to simply pick up and leave.

"If they wanted to move out, yeah, all right, let them move out, but the cost of moving out is far more than the cost of staying here," Hanson said.

The company, along with Kohler's column, also posted a listing of how each of 375 Tier B workers would be impacted by the wage increases, down to the unit and skill position. That, the company argued, proves their claim of an average $3 wage increase for the workers in the lower classification. It also shows a proposed increase based on skill levels that has certain positions, like pottery manual caster, top out at more than $20 an hour. Some other classifications do see their wage structure flatten out or decrease despite skill level jumps, however.

But Rick Felbab, a 37-year brass faucet employee, said the breakdown neglects the fact that an employee's skill level is determined by the company. He said employees worry people may be held back at a lower level simply because of budgeting on the company's part.

Many employees may agree on what they think of Kohler's argument, but there is far from any consensus on how long they'll be out picketing. George Sabel, a 25-year foundry employee, admitted the strike could go on far longer than the one in 1983 did, but emphasized that the holidays may push Kohler to come back to the table.

"We're thinking Herbie [Kohler] doesn't wants to see us out there on Christmas," Sabel said. "If Herbie wanted to help us, he could ... that's just my opinion. Who knows? We don't sit at his table with him at night and eat dinner with him."

While all picketers interviewed Friday expected to be striking for a while longer, some admitted that financial, mental and emotional strain is on the horizon. Felbab said that while he's starting to ask the question of "How many groceries do you want to buy this week?" that other workers are going to start making even tougher decisions, especially with Christmas coming and looming mortgage and property tax payments.

Workers will start getting strike pay from the union, but the $200 a week isn't even enough to cover basic expenses. For now, workers are keeping up spirits and asking those who support their cause to donate — especially food, which they've seen come their way a bit since the strike started nearly two weeks ago.

"Everybody is in good spirits," said pottery employee Randy Halida said. "It seems like the community has our back."

Reach Jason Smathers at 920-453-5167 or jsmathers1@sheboyganpress.com.