Ft. Benning, Georgia – The Columbus Metal Trades Council and community members from Columbus held a “Fair Contract Rally” outside Ft. Benning, Georgia this morning, Monday, December 7, 2015.
The Columbus Metal Trades Council represents employees who support our men and women in uniform at Fort Benning by providing logistics support. The Columbus Metal Trades Council has represented these workers for the past 9 years. During that time, the Council has negotiated collective bargaining agreements that provide good wages and benefits, providing a middle class standard of living to those employees and their families.
Recently, VS2 and its subcontractors became the employers of the employees at Fort Benning. The Columbus Metal Trades Council is currently in negotiations with these employers for a new collective bargaining agreement. However, the negotiator for VS2 and its subcontractors has made it clear through their proposals that the employers intend to take away the current benefits and protections of the employees.
“These Employees are not asking for additional raises. They are not asking for additional benefits and conditions. They are in a fight to maintain what they have had in previous contracts. The purpose of this rally was to inform the soldiers, the base Leadership and the public that these employees stand united in this fight. There is nothing more un-American than to take away what the employees have worked so hard to achieve. We are asking the soldiers, the base leadership and the public to support the efforts of these employees to maintain their terms and conditions of employment, just as they support our men and women in uniform as they defend our country.”, David Clegg, Columbus Metal Trades Member and Spokesperson
The Columbus Metal Trades is a group of locals consisting of IBEW Local 613, SMWIA local 85, LIUNA Local 515, IUOE Local 926, IAM Local 2699, and UA l.u.52