At 12:00 pm on November 2, 2016, the members of IUE CWA went on strike at Momentive Performance Materials in Waterford, NY. These workers are fighting for a fair and equitable contract. The company’s “Last Best Final Offer” would drastically raise workers’ health care costs and eliminate all retirement benefits for future retirees.
Further, the potential unskilled replacement workers the company is hiring from out of state, to do the work of the over 700 highly trained members of IUE CWA puts the plant, the products produced at the plant, and the safety of the community at risk.
The IUE-CWA would like to thank all NYSUT members, both retired and active, for the great support to date. Several of their members have parents who are NYSUT retirees and picket weekly with them.
Please consider helping these workers by volunteering on the picket line, donating to the strike fund, donating food, cooking, etc. They have nine picket locations that are covered 24/7, and anyone can stop at them at any time. Parking is anywhere along the road. Most people stop at strike headquarters located at 301 Hudson River Road, Waterford. They feed and keep people warm, as well as provide bathroom and a meeting room in the basement.There are also burn barrels at every picketing location to keep people warm.
Donations can be wood, water, any kind of food, soups, chili, or anything home cooked. Money donations can be sent to: IUE-CWA Strike Defense Fund, P. O. Box 339, Waterford, NY 12188.
See this video for a worker perspective on why they are sacrificing to strike: http://rc10.ny.aft.org/momentive-strikers-explain-their-cause
More information can be found at momentiveworkers.com. There is also a letter on the website that is very easy to fill out, and will be sent to the Momentive CEO asking him to be fair in bargaining with the workers. It only takes a minute! If you have further questions, contact IUE CWA 359, Dom Patrignani, pres359@gmail.com.