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7 November, 1999Workers at the shipyard in New Orleans, now owned by Litton, will vote on union rights.
USA: An agreement has been reached between the Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, which is representing the 4,000 Avondale shipyard workers in New Orleans, and the new owner of Avondale, Litton Industries. The company has promised it will remain neutral with regard to union representation and said that the union will be recognised if it can prove to have organised more than 50% of the workforce.
John Meese, president of the AFL-CIO's Metal Trades Department, pledged full support for the Avondale workers who, he said, "have endured tremendous stress and exhibited tremendous patience during this long campaign ... We are confident that we will ultimately negotiate a fair contract."
Workers at the New Orleans shipyard had originally voted for collective representation six years ago, but the former management used every possible manoeuvre to delay or deny the workers their democratic right to trade union membership. The shipyard has had an abysmal health and safety record and paid very low wages.
John Meese, president of the AFL-CIO's Metal Trades Department, pledged full support for the Avondale workers who, he said, "have endured tremendous stress and exhibited tremendous patience during this long campaign ... We are confident that we will ultimately negotiate a fair contract."
Workers at the New Orleans shipyard had originally voted for collective representation six years ago, but the former management used every possible manoeuvre to delay or deny the workers their democratic right to trade union membership. The shipyard has had an abysmal health and safety record and paid very low wages.