Cleveland Twist Drill
Workers Blast Kennametal
Some 50 workers from the former
Cleveland Twist Drill plant in Solon, Ohio traveled by bus to the world
headquarters of parent corporation Kennametal Inc. in Latrobe, Pa. on June 15
to condemn the company’s plans to close the plant at the cost of 165 jobs
and protest an inadequate severance offer. Kennametal,
a multinational manufacturer of cutting tools, purchased the Solon plant in
1997. Kennametal announced the plant closing on March 16; UE Local 777 members
overwhelmingly rejected the company’s ‘final offer’ two months later.
Local 777 members were joined by three
UE Local 274 members from a Kennametal plant in Greenfield, Mass., and by UE
District Six members, Steelworkers from a nearby Kennametal-owned plant and
Genl. Sec. Treas. Bob Clark. Local Vice Pres. Lenny Feckner holds a sign made
for the occasion by union member Don Handolovics. Kate Medukic and co-workers
frame the issues outside the headquarters building. Bob Clark reports on an
unsuccessful effort to meet with company officials; pictured immediately to
his right is Local 777 Pres. Konrad Huffnagel.
UE News - 07/99
