Massachusetts Members Ratify Pact at Reed & Barton (4/6/10)

A new three-year agreement has been ratified by the RWDSU Local 593 members employed at Reed & Barton Silversmiths, a silver goods distribution center in Taunton, Massachusetts.

The contract was approved by membership on April 3. In addition to wage increases and other improvements, the health care plan was preserved, and despite management’s early attempts to move to a 50/50 plan, it will remain affordable. According to Dan Karol, Local 593 president and an employee at Reed & Barton, it was the membership’s solidarity that enabled the negotiating committee to put together a solid contract.

“In addition to seeking radical changes to the health care plan, the company also tried to change our overtime policy, which nobody here wanted. We stood strong, and the workers stood together, and we were able to get an agreement that protects health care and our overtime system, and we got wage increases similar to our last contract,” Karol said. “These are tough times, but with a union behind them, workers can still get good contracts.”

 Reed & Barton employees also received a signing bonus after they voted, unanimously, to ratify the contract. In addition to distributing silverware and other silver goods, Reed & Barton employees also handle engraving for the company.