Thunder Bay Manufacturing Works to Protect Alpena Jobs

Business Wire, May 2, 2007

ALPENA, Mich. -- Thunder Bay Manufacturing Company, an automotive supplier and Alpena employer for over 80 years, will continue to provide high quality service to its customers while working to resolve the pending labor negotiations with the United Auto Workers. The owners of Thunder Bay, who live and work in Alpena, have never experienced a labor disruption in 35 years of ownership.

Thunder Bay has engaged in good faith bargaining with the UAW over terms of a new contract for its union employees who earn from $15.05 to $20.60 per hour, plus health care, life insurance, disability, retirement and vacation benefits. We all know the challenges facing Michigan's automotive industry from global competition. Thunder Bay is trying to meet these economic challenges by asking employees to alter overtime rules to match those of its non-union competitor.

Thunder Bay has informed employees that in exchange for improved efficiency the company would make a substantial investment to manufacture wind generated power products to stabilize Thunder Bay's future and create more jobs.

Thunder Bay told the Union that we would extend the current contract and maintain wages and benefits while negotiating. This apparently did not make any difference. Despite Thunder Bay's good faith bargaining, reasonable request to meet competition, and offer to invest in the company, we have been advised by the UAW that a strike is about to occur.

Thunder Bay has asked the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which helps employers and unions avoid strikes, to assist in these negotiations. The FMCS is willing and able to do this, but the UAW has informed the Company and FMCS that it will not participate. You can read about FMCS at www.FMCS.gov.

We encourage the UAW to reconsider its decision to strike and let the FMCS come in and help the parties reach an agreement that both sides can live with. The alternative is to send more jobs out of Alpena and Michigan.