A contract agreement has been reached between union workers and Momentive, ending a strike in Waterford in Saratoga County that has dragged on since early November. Union workers with IUE-CWA Local 81359 and 81380 had been striking for more than three months.
The roughly 700 union members at the chemical plant in Waterford, New York had taken two cuts in pay and benefits since 2010. Details are not yet known about the apparent deal.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released the following statement Thursday afternoon:
“After months of negotiations, I’m pleased both the CWA and Momentive have reached an agreement that ends the strike and puts more than 700 men and women in the Capital Region back to work. The CWA workers at Momentive play a critical role in our economy, and they are entitled to basic economic decency and fairness. This agreement resolves the dispute – investing in the CWA’s world-class workforce, restoring operations at the plant and keeping Upstate New York moving forward.”
The governor's office also sent a statement from Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO:
"On behalf of the 2.5 million members of the New York State AFL-CIO, we want to thank Governor Cuomo for exhibiting true leadership and standing up for the striking workers. The governor’s intervention was a key turning point in this long, hard-fought battle for a fair contract. His actions demonstrate his commitment to union members and middle-class workers throughout our state."
