"Bishop Skylstad joins denominational leadership in call for end to Kaiser strike"by the Inland Register (From the Jan. 14, 1999 edition of the Inland Register)
The statement was issued Jan. 4, 1999. The text follows: “One hundred days is too long! “Jan. 8 will mark the 100th day of the strike between the United Steel Workers and Kaiser Aluminum. “For three months now, families have gone without pay checks. Men and women who have been faithful employees of the two local Kaiser plants have not been engaged in productive labor. Administrators and managers at Kaiser have worked unnecessary overtime and lived in fear that the tender emotions surfaced could touch the peace and serenity of their lives, their homes and their families. The whole community is concerned. “As leaders of some of the major religious denominational groups in Spokane, we implore all those involved to renew quick and principled bargaining of the issues involved. The time for settlement is now. Posturing and power need to give way to resolution of the issues involved. “We urge the United Steel Workers to broaden the representation of local workers. Some 2,100 local workers and their families are involved. They are very committed to their jobs, and also know how they can best do their jobs more productively and honestly. Arbitrary decisions about the size of the needed work force from union leaders outside the plants is not necessarily helpful. It is time for the local workers to have more say. The future of their jobs is on the line. They have been committed members of the Kaiser family, many of them for years. “We urge Kaiser to affirm the productivity of the men and women who have staffed these two plants. When Kaiser was struggling with productivity and profit, (the workers) participated in building its new future. Today Kaiser needs to involve them in continued efforts to produce aluminum for critical world markets. (The workers) are well aware of the issues and can participate in the renewal of the productivity of their work. “Strikes, picket fines, violence, and media posturing are not viable tools in today’s marketplace. The issues are complicated, including personal respect and human interaction. Dialogue will not occur on a picket fine. It is time to return to the conference table. It is time to add community leaders and others who are stake holders in the discussion. “We commit ourselves to prayer for both sides. We offer any of our leaders for participation in principled negotiations. We urge both sides to set a deadline for completion of this task, which touches the lives of everyone in the Spokane community. One hundred days is too long!” In addition to Bishop Skylstad, the statement was signed by:
 Home |
Bishop William S. Skylstad and the heads of six other denominational groups joined together
recently to produce a statement addressing concerns raised by the ongoing strike at Kaiser
Aluminum.