The Vote

They voted no the first time in March. The company said it was surprised. The company asked them to reconsider.

They voted no the second time in August. The company brought in a consultant. The consultant held sessions about collaboration and communication. The sessions were mandatory. Attendance was taken.

They voted no the third time in February.

The company moved some work offshore. Not all of it. The plant was still cheaper to run than to close. The work that remained was the work nobody else could do as fast.

They knew this. They had always known this. That was why they voted no three times.

The union didn’t win everything. The health benefits stayed capped. The retirement multiplier didn’t change. But the floor held. Three rounds, and the floor held.

Some of them had been there long enough to remember the last time management asked for concessions. What they’d gotten in return. They told the younger ones.

The younger ones voted no too.