Fuyao employees reject UAW bid by a wide margin

[MichMan]

Employees at Fuyao Glass America voted by a resounding margin Thursday against joining the United Auto Workers, defeating the union’s more than 18-month attempt to organize one of the Dayton area’s fastest growing manufacturers, in a fight that drew the international spotlight.

The final tally was 886 to 441, according to the National Labor Relations Board, which oversaw the election. 
The UAW offered a slightly different tally, but the same outcome: 868 votes against forming a UAW-represented collective bargaining unit, and 444 votes for the union.

There were 1,608 eligible voters at Fuyao, according to Matthew Denholm, assistant regional director for the NLRB in Cincinnati. Three ballots were void and 186 were challenged. “The union did not receive a majority,” Denholm said. 

The NLRB election process gives the UAW a week to challenge the outcome of the election. 

In a statement, the union said workers “reported irregularities during the election which the UAW is investigating, and it may file objections” with the NLRB.

Fuyao is Ohio’s largest Chinese-owned manufacturing operation, anchored in the shell of a former General Motors plant, and the company itself is just over three years old. The Moraine plant makes automotive and safety glass, with the capacity to make glass sets for one of every four vehicles on North American roads.


[link:http://www.daytondailynews.com/business/fuyao-voting-scheduled-end-soon/heywvRQaCN4kQr7E6bvVDK/|

[sandensea]

1. The old "you unionize, and we move to Vietnam" ploy.

Sorry to hear it went this way.

[MichMan]

2. They spent a lot of $$$ refurbishing the plant

I don't believe moving the plant was ever a real threat. Fuyao spent a large amount making the former GM Moraine Assembly plant into a world class glass manufacturing facility.

I worked for a competitor for many years, so I have some knowledge of the glass industry, but know little about that plant other than what I read.

Auto glass is very heavy and difficult to ship, so while sourcing it from Asia is always an option, it creates a lot more issues.

[sandensea]

5. How about Mexico?

Thanks for the insights.

[MichMan]

7. Much more likely

[blueinredohio]

3. Yep that's the way it usually works, scared they'll lose their job

[TheBlackAdder]

6. Normally, a gossip campaign is launched, where the rumor is that some or all of the jobs will be go.

[MichMan]

4. The vote unfortunately was 2:1 against, so not very close at all

There was a lot of infighting between the UAW and the IUE on which one had the right to exclusive jurisdiction.

The IUE had been the bargaining agent when the plant was owned by General Motors building SUV, so don't know if that had any role in the voting.