Union members of the International Union of Electrical-Communications Workers of America, Local 313 won a labor dispute with power giant Dresser-Rand Co., a manufacturer of turbines used by worldwide oil, gas, petrochemical and process industries.
The National Labor Relations Board, the administrative board that interprets the National Labor Relations Act, ruled that that Dresser-Rand unlawfully suspended three employees because they took part in a 17-week strike that followed the expiration of their collective bargaining agreement in August 2007. According to Local 313 president Steve Coates, the Board has filed a complaint against the company for labor violations and discrimination against workers who participated in the strike.
In November 2007, the company locked out union members and selectively reinstated workers who crossed the picket lines without negotiating with the union.
Third- and fourth-quarter profits for Dresser-Rand more than doubled from 2007 to 2008, and the company expects sales to continue to increase through 2009 by 3 to 7 percent.
