Members of the Machinists Union representing workers at Schneider/Square D in Peru went on strike last week. At issue is the defined benefit pension plan that the members rely upon for a retirement.

Contract negotiations broke down, sending more than 300 workers to the picket line, but they were not alone. On Oct. 18, members of United Auto Workers Local 685, United Auto Workers Local 1302, and United Steel Workers Local 2958 joined their union brothers and sisters in the fight for a fair contract.

“(Local 685 Vice President) Jerry (Price), (Local 1302 President) George Maus and I received calls from the Machinists local working at Square D (Schneider),” said Local 685 President Carl Greenwood. “We took our members up there to march and picket with them. They’re on strike. The Steelworkers joined us. We want them to know that all of the brothers and sisters in this community are giving them support.”

According to Local 2958 President Rex Ambrose, the demonstration struck close to home for his membership, as pensions have been targeted in their labor negotiations in past years.

“Those guys are on strike for some of the same reasons we would have been on strike for,” said Ambrose. “Fortunately, we didn’t have to strike to get it. They are. Contract time is the hardest time for any union.

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“I used to have three bargaining units in Peru – Trelleborg, Orion, and Classico. I don’t have any of them now. Two of them closed, and one de-certified. To go over and support the Machinists who allowed us to use their union hall when we held meetings for our bargaining groups feels good. Getting the USW back in that area is awesome. We’re going to do what we can for them.”

Greenwood explained that extending the hand of solidarity to the Machinists may benefit the UAW next years as it enters contract negotiations with Chrysler.

“They assured us that, if we have to go on strike next year, their membership would come and support us as well,” said Greenwood. “That’s what it’s all about. We’re reaching out and getting our younger membership involved and socially active.

“I hope our members see this situation and realize that it is something that could happen back here. This could be us next year, so let’s cut our teeth here and be a part of something. It makes us feel good that we have a membership that is starting to mature and wants to volunteer and fight for a cause bigger than our personal stake.

“Unions are on their last stand. We’ve had the heck beat out of us with Right to Work. OSHA has been watered down. The NLRB was shredded. We have elections overturned by union-busting congressmen and senators. We have to bind together and fight for better working conditions for the next group of union members.”