Dennis Campbell

Although Metso's announcement of the plant closing was unexpected, Dennis Campbell of Argyle and his fellow workers knew something was up when Thulin, president of Metso's holding company, made a surprise visit to Keokuk just before Christmas.
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"He didn't meet with anyone besides Pat Boyd," Campbell said.

Campbell is president of the plant's labor union, United Steel Workers of America, Local 932.He saw Thulin's quick visit as boding no good, but wasn't sure how.

"I've worked there for 30 years and it seemed like it was hanging over our heads the entire time," Campbell said."With all the name changes over the years that meant it was sold to someone else, you never feel like you're on solid footing, like you're established."

Campbell said he and the other workers are hoping for some extended benefits in addition to standard unemployment.Negotiations will be under way to determine severance terms.

He sees the Metso Minerals factory closing as another piece of a global economy clicking into place, but in the context of the world's grassroots level where the global shift is being played out.

"All you hear about is the global economy," Campbell said."But what we need to be concentrating on is a global standard of living.They'll be moving up and we'll be moving down to meet somewhere in the middle.I feel the government needs to be involved in raising their standard of living and they're (overseas workers) going to have to organize."

"We'd be a lot better off if we were more locally owned," Campbell added.