AdvanSix reported on May 8 that its Hopewell South bargaining unit has informed the company that its employees have voted to ratify a new five-year collective bargaining agreement covering approximately 340 workers at the Hopewell, Va., site. The employees reported back to work on May 10. They began their strike in early April (GM May 5, p. 1).
“I am pleased to welcome our Hopewell South employees back to work,” said Erin Kane, AdvanSix President and CEO. “This comprehensive and competitive five-year contract provides fair and equitable market-based wages and benefits that support our employees and their families. We believe this contract will also serve to improve attraction, retention, and development of our workforce that will support long-term sustainable growth and our essential role of delivering the vital chemistries that are the foundation of a diverse range of products that touch people’s everyday lives.”
Kane told analysts May 5 that until April there had not been a strike at Hopewell South since 1987.
“Throughout the economic strike period, we continued to enable safe, stable, and sustainable operations with the support of our contingency workforce,” she added. “We thank the contingency workforce for their dedication to ensure we safely delivered to our customers each and every day with no disruption.”
The unit consists of the International Chemical Workers Union Council/the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 591-C; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 666; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local No. 10; and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry, Local 851.