Barry Strange

"Our efforts in this case serve as notice to Robbins that PACE International Union will not stand idly by while legal rights of its represented workers are being violated," said PACE Region Seven International Representative Barry Strange.

"Our efforts in this case serve as notice to Robbins that PACE International Union will not stand idly by while legal rights of its represented workers are being violated," said PACE Region Seven International Representative Barry Strange.

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Barry Strange, PACE Region 7 international representative, (cell) 615-585-0810

McVay and PACE Region Seven Representative Barry Strange joined Local 5-578 Vice President Charles Kolen and Chief Steward Lou Ann Mitchell on the PACE negotiation committee.
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Barry Strange

The Robbins plant makes hardwood flooring for homes under the brand names Robbins Flooring and Triangle Pacific that are sold at major home improvement retailers.Robbins and its parent company, Triangle Pacific, became part of Lancaster, Pa.-based Armstrong World Industries, Inc., earlier this year.Armstrong is a world leader in resilient flooring and other building products, and is predominantly union.
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PACE Region Seven Representative Barry Strange said the Warren contract is very good on wages and benefits, with an immediate across-the-board increase of $ .45-an-hour, or over 5 percent for most workers.That is followed by $ .35 and $ .25 increases in the second and third years of the contract."When we began negotiations, they were offering no increase the first year and ten cents in the second and third years, Strange said.The whole context of the bargaining table improved in October when top management at Armstrong decided to get involved. Other notable improvements were made in the 401 (k) plan and on contracting-out language.

Local management had fought off union drives before, and utilized an outside attorney and several delaying tactics.The local was forced to re-energize support because of high turnover after the November 1998 vote to unionize.

"Our efforts in this case serve as notice to Robbins that PACE International Union will not stand idly by while legal rights of its represented workers are being violated," said PACE Region Seven International Representative Barry Strange.

"Our efforts in this case serve as notice to Robbins that PACE International Union will not stand idly by while legal rights of its represented workers are being violated," said PACE Region Seven Representative Barry Strange."The favorable testimony at this hearing of some key nonunion employees was instrumental in the union prevailing."

Strange said several more unfair labor practice charges are pending against Robbins Hardwood Flooring, and that the union was willing to pursue all legal avenues to insure workers' rights in Warren.

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"Our efforts in this case serve as notice to Robbins, that PACE International Union will not stand idly by while legal rights of its represented workers are being violated," said PACE Region Seven International Representative Barry Strange.

"They did not have a contract that was etched in stone," said PACE Region Seven Representative Barry Strange."The problem was that the company was making changes and the workers didn't have a voice in these matters."

He said the employees sought him out and were knowledgeable of PACE."They knew PACE had a presence in the community and was a big union, so they sought us out," he said.

"We managed to stay one step ahead of the company all the way through the campaign," said Strange.