DAY 52

At two PM on Friday the new contract was ready but for two points. Both were economic issues that would together cost the company some money.  Sean looked at George.  “What if we scale down those requests to two thirds of that much?”

“It’s still a lot of money.”

“And if we go back Monday morning and get back in operation it you will save more than that in temp costs and scrap that comes till they get up to speed.”

George looked at the numbers.  “I’ll let you talk to the accountants.  Maybe you would do better with them than I do.  You are right.”  He grinned.  “I like that idea, but it will only work if we can get back to work.”

“We can try.  I’ll only hold you to that agreement if we get back.”

“So we have a deal?”

“We have a deal.”

“I want to do one more thing.  I am sure some of your people will have a bad time next week.  They got a pay today but next week they will get nothing.  I would like to propose that anyone who reports on time Monday will get a check for a hundred fifty dollars.  If they are there but late less than two hours it is a hundred.  It isn’t a full week but it will help.  I need to get the plant running and hit the ground running on Monday morning.  I can afford that if it happens.”

“Sir, that is.  I mean.  I never expected that.”

“If we can get a running start on Monday it is easily worth that to Perkins.  We can give up what we get back.”

“We have a settlement.”

“Let’s get it up on the web pages.  Can we get a ratification vote before Monday?”

“I called the hall at noon and told them to put out the word that we would have a meeting on Sunday and would probably be voting a contract.”

“You expected to get to settlement?”

“I was hoping and willing to do as much as i could to make it happen.  You know, this is the easiest contract negotiation I have done and I think we got the best contract we have ever been able to take to the members.”

“It has been the easiest for me and I think we have what we need.”

DAY 53

The union meeting was relatively quiet.  Lee and Sean presented the contract and the vote was taken.  The yes vote was unanimous.  Most of the men had read the new contract before the meeting.

The First Family: Chapter 1 – Introduction

The First Family – Chapter 100 – Learning to Negotiate

The First Family – Chapter 102 – The NMU Gets a Contract in Record Time