Local authorizes strike at Ameripol Synpol plant

PORT NECHES, Texas (Sept. 25)—Members of the main operating union at Ameripol Synpol Corp.'s Port Neches manufacturing site voted Sept. 18 to authorize their negotiating team to call for a strike, according to a Sept.19 article in "The Beaumont Enterprise." The main issue behind the possible strike is management's desire to have an unrestricted right to hire contract workers to replace some of the current work force, which the plant manager said is remote, but necessary to respond to worsening economic conditions, according to the article. "This is an initial strike vote. It doesn't mean we're going on strike," said Ernie Knod, president of Local No. 4-228 of the Paper Allied Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union. "We're still talking about the issues that are on the table."