Union workers at Gradall go on strike in dispute over wages, health insurance costs
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ The 230 members of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1285 have gone on strike against Gradall Industries, Inc. in a dispute over pay and health insurance costs.
Union members took to the picket line at the plant at 406 Mill Ave. SE, New Philadelphia, on Monday after rejecting the company's final contract offer.
“IAM Local 1285 members at Gradall deserve a contract that treats them with the respect and dignity they’ve earned,” said IAM District 54 President and Directing Business Representative T. Dean Wright, Jr. “IAM District 54 and the entire IAM will continue to provide every resource necessary to obtain a strong contract for our members at Gradall.”
Added IAM District 54 Assistant Directing Business Representative Don Riffee, Jr., “The IAM stands ready to negotiate an improved contract with Gradall. Our negotiating committee and membership are strong and standing together for a better offer.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of the largest industrial trade unions in North America, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive and other industries.
Gradall did not respond to a request for comment.
More stable health insurance costs
Gradall members are seeking higher pay increases and more stable health insurance costs.
IAM Local 1285 members at Gradall went on strike for nearly a month in 2018, seeking health insurance concessions, better pay and retirement benefits.
New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day decline to comment on the strike.
Gradall, an Alamo Group company, manufactures Gradall excavators and Vacall street sweepers. The excavator is the only excavator produced only in America. Gradall products include steel and aluminum mill maintenance machines, mine scalers, railway maintenance machines and other products.
Long history in Tuscarawas County
The company has been a major employer in the New Philadelphia area for more than seven decades.
The Gradall excavator was developed by two Dutch immigrants living in Cleveland in 1944, creating a machine that could reduce manual labor on grading jobs and free up manpower for World War II. In 1945, a Cleveland company, Warner & Swasey began manufacturing the excavator. It moved production to New Philadelphia in 1950, leasing the old American Sheet & Tin Plate Co. plant on Mill Avenue SW.
Over the following years, the design of the Gradall excavator was continuously improved. At the same time, ownership of the property changed several times. Alamo Group acquired the business in 2006 from JLG Industries Inc., which had owned Gradall since 1999. The purchase price was $39.4 million, which included the 430,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and all related equipment, machinery, tooling and intellectual property.
At that time, Gradall was the second largest industrial employer in Tuscarawas County, behind Belden Brick Co. in Sugarcreek.
The company remains one of the top 10 employers in the county, according to the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce. It is also the 77th largest property taxpayer in Tuscarawas County, according to Tuscarawas County Auditor Larry Lindberg. For the current year, its bills total $60,649.70.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Gradall Industries union workers hit picket line in New Philadelphia
