UAW circulates 'scab' list in Kohler strike

United Auto Workers Local 833 leaders have begun circulating a list of union members who have crossed picket lines in the now 2-week-old Kohler Co. strike, though they insist the individuals will be left alone.

The list, which was obtained by the Sheboygan Press and verified by UAW Local 833 leaders, includes 13 circled names with the heading, “No longer our union brothers or sisters.”

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It goes on to state, “A scab is a scab,” and “Don’t be afraid to point them out.”

UAW Local 833 President Tim Tayloe said Tuesday that the list was distributed by union leaders at the request of members, though he said he has been clear with the union’s rank and file to not cause trouble.

“I said, ‘No harm to these people.’ I have to represent everyone fairly,” Tayloe said. “The people in there chose to cross (the picket line) … but nobody said to harm anybody. This is not the 1940s.”

However, as the list began circulating on social media, it was immediately met with insults and at least one call to “slash their tires.”

Tayloe indicated that such actions won’t be tolerated.

“If there’s any damage of property, I will handle that with members if I find out who or what,” Tayloe said. “I don’t condone that.”

Union members who've crossed the picket line say they're troubled by the list but can't afford to remain on strike.

Luis Rodriguez, who returned to his $14.10-per-hour production job on Nov. 25 but was not on the union's list, said his loyalty lies with his family, which includes his two children, two stepchildren and wife, who's pregnant and due in January.

Rodriguez said he simply can't survive on his $200 per week strike pay and food assistance offered by the union.

"I know we deserve more money, and I respect the guys on strike...but I need to support my family," he said.

Tayloe said the fact that workers have returned to work doesn’t impact their status with the union and that he’ll “represent these people to my fullest” in negotiations with the company.

Union, company have spoken

The strike is now in its third week, with no talk of returning to the bargaining table.

However, Tayloe said the union has exchanged emails with the company, which he said have at least indicated a possibility that negotiations could soon resume.

The UAW Local 833, which represents about 2,100 employees working at the company's factories in the Town of Mosel and Village of Kohler, is seeking to eliminate a two-tiered wage structure they feel has created significant pay disparities among employees performing similar work, with those at the bottom forgoing a livable wage.

David Kohler, the company’s president and CEO, has warned that without the two-tier system, local manufacturing jobs will likely disappear as the company’s local manufacturing operation is its most costly among 13 sites in the U.S. and 48 around the world.

Police to limit tents, burn barrels

With striking workers continuing to assemble in and around Highland Drive in Kohler, where they’ve put up tents and burn barrels to combat the cold weather, the Village of Kohler Police Department has been meeting with the union to begin managing the use of tents by picketers.

Police Chief William Rutten said officers are trying to find a “happy medium” that allows protesters to stay warm but without tents overtaking the landscape.

“We don’t want to be overly harsh, but we don’t want it to look like tent city,” he said.

Tayloe said the union has no issue with the request and is working with police.

In addition, police are enforcing a village ordinance limiting the use of burn barrels from noon to 11 p.m., which Rutten said hasn’t been a big issue.

Rutten said neither action was requested by Kohler Co. officials.

Reach Josh Lintereur at 920-453-5147,jlintereur@sheboyganpress.com or @joshlintereur on Twitter.