by Mike Harris
When a greedy employer refused to revise its snow-day policy, workers decided enough was enough and took some good old fashion direct action.
Workers at the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Cummins’ Consolidated Diesel plant were concerned about having to drive on hazardous roads during severe ice and snow storms. In spite of a declared state of emergency by the Governor on January 25 -28th, the management opened the plant for production. This was the straw which broke the camels back. The workers have be engaged in a struggle with management over this issue for the past 4 winters
Workers directly confronted the plant manager on the shop floor giving him an earful for 45 minutes. After this action the plant manager revised the policy in a more favorable manner for the workers. While agreeing to eliminate attendance penalties, workers were denied the use of vacation time. Use of vacation time is still being fought for.
The Rocky Mount Cummins’ Consolidated Diesel workers do not yet belong to any union. They have organized themselves into the Workers Unity Committee. This committee is a non-majority status union that is part of United Electoral Workers Local 150.