Hey everyone, the company in in the middle of negotiations right now and looks like we will be on strike as of Monday. I am not the smartest person when it comes to this stuff, and this is my first time going through something like this. so I am looking for some outside info. Right now most people at my place of employment make around 30-35$ per hour. We have a COLA agreement, and we get profit sharing (last fiscal year we all earned ~50k in bonuses).
The company's first offer was: we have a COLA roll in on July 31 of $1.54 under our current contract which expires the same day. They will give a 0.5% increase on Aug 1 which would be the first day of the new contract. The following 2 years we would receive $1.35 increase each year. They use the COLA to get to that $1.35. An example would be if COLA was equal to $1 then the company would add 0.35$ to get $1.35. If COLA was equal to $2 then we would get a $2 raise that year.
The union asked for 6% 6% 4% PLUS cola.
The company countered with their “final” offer last night of: 1.54 on July 31 plus 1% on Aug 1, then 3.5% year 2 and 4% year 3. They will use COLA they same way they did in their first offer to get the minimum 3.5 and 4%.
The union said no and countered with 3.5% Aug 1 then 3.5% and 4% plus COLA.
The Union state that the company had a profit of 1.5 billion last year and they are being fair with their ask.
As it stands we will be going on strike Monday. My question is do you guys think the company's offer is fair? Or is going on strike a good idea?
Thanks!