Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 4, 1993 TAG: 9303040113
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GEORGE KEGLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
MEDECO ACCUSED OF DISTORTION
Leaders of the International Union of Electronic Workers claim that Medeco Security Locks' management is "distorting the truth" about the union to influence votes in an election next week.The Salem company's statements in leaflets "misrepresent IUE's dues structure," IUE officials said this week.
Tensions are growing at the lock plant, where about 330 production and maintenance workers will be eligible to vote on IUE representation.
The National Labor Relations Board will hold a vote at the plant from 10 p.m. to midnight on March 11 and from 10 a.m. to noon on March 12.
In response to the union charges, Medeco President Tim Layton said "all the information that we have provided employees has been accurately documented."
He said the company is "committed to provide our employees with full information so that each employee may cast an informed vote."
Charles Van Dellen of Salem and Denis O'Donnell, IUE district organizers, contested a company leaflet that says union dues for Medeco employees will be "at least $301 per employee."
The union's figure for dues in the first year of representation is $126. The company is "distorting the character of the union," O'Donnell said.
Van Dellen said Medeco "puts out daily handbills showing strikes of years ago." Unions have changed their methods of organizing and striking; this shows the old style, he said. Medeco is running "a negative campaign of fear," Van Dellen charged.
Gerald Meadows, president of the IUE local at the General Electric Co. plant in Salem, said Medeco leaflets say members of his local must pay up to $25 in initiation fees. In fact, Meadows said, most members have not paid an initiation fee and the "few who have, paid less than half" of $25.
Company handbills tell employees to go to their supervisors for proof of company statements, Van Dellen said, "but most supervisors are not that sophisticated."
O'Donnell said employees want a better pension plan and health insurance. The company provides varying pay for employees who have the same job and has "kind of a disdain for women," he said.
Layton said his company "is building a true state-of-the-art factory and a union would create an adversarial relationship between management and employees." Union representation would slow progress considerably "and we can't afford to slow down," he added.
The IUE "doesn't comprehend that we face tremendous competition and we have to work closely together to be successful," the company president said.