Kohler sends striking workers letters; union plans mass picket

Source: jsonline

By Rick Romell

Pressures are building in the strike at Kohler Co., with the union planning a mass picket Saturday near a popular company event, and the firm sending letters to employees at their homes describing its contract proposal.

The letter fleshes out details of the offer that the firm said it couldn't provide to everyone earlier "due to the late conclusion of negotiations."

Meanwhile, the union on Friday for the first time released a summary of its counterproposal. A comparison of the two offers indicates that the biggest differences were the union's call to end a two-tier wage system, which Kohler wants to retain, and health insurance costs.

The two sides were closer on pay increases. The union — Local 833 of the United Auto Workers — sought an hourly increase of 63 cents in the first year, and 66 cents in the second and third years of a three-year contract. The company offered 50 cents each year to roughly 80% of the workforce.

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