Union workers deny C&D Technologies' offer

ATTICA, Ind. (WLFI) - Union representatives in Attica had plans Saturday afternoon to call the C&D Technologies Human Resource Department. They needed to tell members of the department the set of wages and insurance plans offered to employees at the Attica plant has been denied by union workers.

The plan was nearly a unanimous decision with a 207-20 vote at the Saturday union meeting at Attica Elementary School.

"The company is not budging on anything," 13-year employee Scott Childers said. "They said this is what they want and it's their final offer, and it's the way it's going to be. It's unacceptable as far as I'm concerned."

Many workers like Childers are upset with the change in insurance plans.

"They're taking it down to [an insurance company] where we'll end up paying for a $2,400 family deductible," Childers said. "Plus $8,000 if you end up getting hospitalized for anything. It's ridiculous."

"Right now we have a co-pay, and we don't have a deductible," 14-year employee Clayton Moore said. "What they're wanting to offer us as a deductible is almost unaffordable."

The cafeteria at Attica Elementary School was filled with union workers. It took just under an hour to clear the room out. Workers wonder what Monday will bring. They hope to go to work as normal. However there is a chance of a lockout. They said if that happens they'll strike.

"I'm hoping it doesn't come to that because it will hurt us," Childers said. "In the same sense I think they'll lose more business over it. They have government contracts and nuclear orders. Unqualified people can't build those batteries."

C&D Technologies builds high power batteries. It has been in Attica since 1955. It's based in Pennsylvania. It also has plants in Tennessee and Wisconsin. Plus some international plants in Canada, Mexico and China.

C&D representatives couldn't be reached for comment over the weekend. News 18 will try again on Monday.