What is going on with S-K Tools?

[krusty the clown]

probably more "generalizing" than speculating.

t56 impala, i wasn't refering to you in that comment!

as hiball stated they are contractualy obligated at this point and should do something to fullfill thier obligation. from the outside looking in i hope they do find an agreement.

 

[Hiball]

After a little research this strike only affects about 70 workers and they have been working without a contract since febuary, The company in May decided to drop the employees healthcare without any prior notice and have refused to negotiate with the union. It is since be handed over to a mediation board.

Here is the company last offer to the employees: “Their last offer was minimum wage and no healthcare insurance,” Mr. Berg said. “That, of course, is untenable.” Nice!! Im sure they are gonna produce some fine tools....


“We are willing to make concessions to save the company,” union steward David Biedrzycki stated, “but we can’t lose our health insurance. They expect us to pay for our health coverage out-of-pocket when they’re also asking for a 20% pay cut – we can’t afford this!” The workers’ wages have been frozen for the last six years

Sounds like the company doesnt want to negotiate at all, Next step Overseas workers who can afford to work for mininum wage without benefits. Its easy to sit back and blame the union for not wanting to negotiate but how would you feel if your job decided to cut your wages 20% and take your healthcare in todays world? And there is a difference when your making 80k a year compared to 24k.

 

[djd99]

They are cutting their own throats..... good bye to another US made tool.

What a shame nothing like shooting yourself in the foot. lol

 

[krusty the clown]

link to the article please

 

[krusty the clown]

here's what i have found...........

As contract negotiations have stalled, SK Hand Tools has also been behind on its payments to the workers’ pension fund. According to Berg, the French-owned company has not made regular payments since February.

In addition to its move to force employees to cover their health insurance out-of-pocket, management is currently bargaining for a 20 percent pay cut for all workers.

“Our wages have already been frozen for six years,” said David Bierdzycki, a union steward for SK Hand Tools. “We are all willing to make concessions to ensure this company survives, but we can’t lose our health insurance; we can’t lose our pensions and continue to operate in an unfair work environment.”

On average, employees now earn $14 per hour. The pay reduction proposed by management includes a loss of $4 per hour in the first six months of a new contract, lowering the company’s average earnings to just above Illinois’ minimum wage.

 

[sk farmer]

thanks for looking into it guys. i just don't seem to have the time or knowledge to go out and find that stuff. i know i have posted often today but it is while i have been in and out of my office. i am sure all parties are at fault but i see it kind of like a marriage or couples problem. when you take the problem and use it to tear the other persons reputation apart, you kind of lose all hope of reconsile. i guess i don't have much more to say than it is just plain sad. krusty, not so big on bud but i do love a tall blonde[miller high life in along neck]. i would make the concession for you though krusty. do you suppose we will see an sk by gearwrench product?

 

[krusty the clown]

i guess i don't have much more to say than it is just plain sad.

agreed

krusty, not so big on bud but i do love a tall blonde[miller high life in along neck]. i would make the concession for you though krusty.

a 12 pack of each then

do you suppose we will see an sk by gearwrench product?

i previously posted a thread about sk sourcing ratchets from danaher so you may be right

 

[sk farmer]

agreed a 12 pack of each then
okay that will work for me. what are you going to drink?

 

[Marlin]

I lost all respect for SK when they tried to get into the air tool business by copying Ingersoll Rand model numbers and just sticking a 9 in front of each model. I know this is referring to hand tools but that was pretty sleazy of them.

 

[philw]

here's what i have found...........

As contract negotiations have stalled, SK Hand Tools has also been behind on its payments to the workers’ pension fund. According to Berg, the French-owned company has not made regular payments since February.

In addition to its move to force employees to cover their health insurance out-of-pocket, management is currently bargaining for a 20 percent pay cut for all workers.

“Our wages have already been frozen for six years,” said David Bierdzycki, a union steward for SK Hand Tools. “We are all willing to make concessions to ensure this company survives, but we can’t lose our health insurance; we can’t lose our pensions and continue to operate in an unfair work environment.”

On average, employees now earn $14 per hour. The pay reduction proposed by management includes a loss of $4 per hour in the first six months of a new contract, lowering the company’s average earnings to just above Illinois’ minimum wage.

SK is done, at least as far as USA production is concerned. The workers are not going to work for $10/hr with no benefits and I can't blame them.

 

[benjamming]

When they say workers to pay for health coverage out of pocket, are they saying for the employee to pay for it 100% w/o any company contribution?

 

[krusty the clown]

The workers are not going to work for $10/hr with no benefits and I can't blame them.

i agree. after 7 month of trying to reach a deal they probably have no hope of saving thier jobs anyway. i suspect this may be the company using them as scapegoats for moving production offshore.

 

[litljay]

20% pay reduction from $14.00 = $2.80 reduction or $11.20 final pay.

Maybe I was reading it incorrectly, but that's no where near Min. wage.

 

[krusty the clown]

When they say workers to pay for health coverage out of pocket, are they saying for the employee to pay for it 100% w/o any company contribution?

thats what i assume, but i'm sure we don't have all of the facts.

 

[krusty the clown]

20% pay reduction from $14.00 = $2.80 reduction or $11.20 final pay.

Maybe I was reading it incorrectly, but that's no where near Min. wage.

it stated that the company asked for a reduction to $10 an hour. i'm guessing the write came up with the 20% as a ballpark figure. illinois minimum wage is $8 an hour so it's only $80 per week more than minimum wage.

 

[litljay]

it stated that the company asked for a reduction to $10 an hour. i'm guessing the write came up with the 20% as a ballpark figure. illinois minimum wage is $8 an hour so it's only $80 per week more than minimum wage.

Thanks for the explanation. I thought there was some pretty fuzzy math going on.

$2/hr for a full time employee equates to about $4,080 of regular time gross pay a year.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

Contractually obligated to provide health insurance or not, the company can't give them what they don't have to give. The union is doing nothing but making the problem worse, and these people have a lot of nerve, considering the unemployment rate these days. I'm so sick of this union garbage. My g/f was teaching middle school and wasn't tenured, she got laid off, now has to pay for her own health insurance while she's working as a subsititue, and doesn't have any whiney union to stand in a picket line with. It's called real life, and these crybabies never do anything to help the situation, only aggravate it more. I have friends that have made temporary pay cuts at their jobs, and it *****, but they don't have a union to cry to, they've got bills to pay and know you have to tough it out for awhile until the storm clears. As much as I hate companies moving overseas, I can't say I blame them with b.s. like this.

 

[Hiball]

Contractually obligated to provide health insurance or not, the company can't give them what they don't have to give. The union is doing nothing but making the problem worse, and these people have a lot of nerve, considering the unemployment rate these days. I'm so sick of this union garbage. My g/f was teaching middle school and wasn't tenured, she got laid off, now has to pay for her own health insurance while she's working as a subsititue, and doesn't have any whiney union to stand in a picket line with. It's called real life, and these crybabies never do anything to help the situation, only aggravate it more. I have friends that have made temporary pay cuts at their jobs, and it *****, but they don't have a union to cry to, they've got bills to pay and know you have to tough it out for awhile until the storm clears. As much as I hate companies moving overseas, I can't say I blame them with b.s. like this.

There is so much uneducated jargin in that statement i should just leave it alone. If your Gf was still teaching and the company dropped her insurance, failed to inform her and in the mean time while she was unaware that her insurance had been dropped she had been seeing the doctor and now had to pay the bill in full, Im sure you would have a different opinion. Im sorry your Gf got laid off and im sorry as a part time employee she doesnt qualify for health insurance. It also ***** to have to take a pay cut to keep your job and your friends im sure can vouch but if you read the facts and the reasoning of this strike its because the "company" doesnt want to talk and the only thing they are proposing is a 20% paycut and NO BENEFITS. The union isnt asking for a pay raise, Unions notoriously yield to hard times and try and work with companies, For instance the UAW which is probably one of the Strongest unions worked together with the Big 3 recently to keep jobs and have the company still make money. Im so sick of the That "Ronald Reagan Unions are bad mentality, Nobody ever see's the good that comes from unions because they all that they can see is $$$$. Give me a break

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

There is so much uneducated jargin in that statement i should just leave it alone. If your Gf was still teaching and the company dropped her insurance, failed to inform her and in the mean time while she was unaware that her insurance had been dropped she had been seeing the doctor and now had to pay the bill in full, Im sure you would have a different opinion. Im sorry your Gf got laid off and im sorry as a part time employee she doesnt qualify for health insurance. It also ***** to have to take a pay cut to keep your job and your friends im sure can vouch but if you read the facts and the reasoning of this strike its because the "company" doesnt want to talk and the only thing they are proposing is a 20% paycut and NO BENEFITS. The union isnt asking for a pay raise, Unions notoriously yield to hard times and try and work with companies, For instance the UAW which is probably one of the Strongest unions worked together with the Big 3 recently to keep jobs and have the company still make money. Im so sick of the That "Ronald Reagan Unions are bad mentality, Nobody ever see's the good that comes from unions because they all that they can see is $$$$. Give me a break

It's jargon, not jargin. And I could give two shits if you think that's what my post was full of. There are people out there WITHOUT JOBS and WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE who don't have a pansy *** union to back them, those are the people I feel for. The ones that have to do what they have to do to put food on the table. If the unions were so so great, they should support there members and provide health insurance for them and compromise until th e company can get back on its feet, not hang them from a noose. The unions great if your a member, otherwise they're a sham. So sick of this rah rah pro union non-sense.

 

[HandyManny]

Not sure I get the sign they are holding up saying "Don't Buy SK Handtools sold at Sears"

At the Sears in MN I have seen one 1/4 SK ratchet and that's the only SK thing in the whole store. I thought Danaher made all of the Craftsman stuff. Do the employees not even know where the tools they make are sold or am I missing something?

That's exactly the only thing at my Sears that's SK inthe whole store too.

 

[krusty the clown]

So sick of this rah rah pro union non-sense.

as we are of the anti-union non-sense.........

we have had a reasonable discussion all day about the facts of THIS case. lets stick with that

 

[HandyManny]

who added the political part in manny's quote of krusty? i assume manny as i did not see that krusty edited. noone else has mentioned political beleif. i am not being political or anti union. i am just stating imop that the union and the employees are pulling a stupid pr stunt that will not make insurance magicly appear. it's only benifit is to smear the company and damage it's reputation. not a very good way to prop up an ailing company in a fragile economy. again, my opinion.

What?? Nope I added nothing. I didn't even make reference to anything political here. If it was in the quote it was there before I even noticed it. I just hit quote when I responded. I have never been able to manipulate anyones posts here, nor would I. I'm not that good with a PC and keyboard.

 

[nelstomlinson]

...if you read the facts and the reasoning of this strike its because the "company" doesnt want to talk and the only thing they are proposing is a 20% paycut and NO BENEFITS.

I don't blame folks for being upset. That would upset me, too. With the state of the economy, there is a very real chance that the company's next offer will be a 100% pay cut and no benefits. No company is required to stay in business.

The union isnt asking for a pay raise, Unions notoriously yield to hard times and try and work with companies,...

That's wise; if you don't keep the boss in business, he won't keep you employed. Let's hope the unions work with SK this time. It doesn't sound as if it has happened yet.

I'd surely hate to see another U.S. manufacturer close down.

 

[Hiball]

It's jargon, not jargin. And I could give two shits if you think that's what my post was full of. There are people out there WITHOUT JOBS and WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE who don't have a pansy *** union to back them, those are the people I feel for. The ones that have to do what they have to do to put food on the table. If the unions were so so great, they should support there members and provide health insurance for them and compromise until th e company can get back on its feet, not hang them from a noose. The unions great if your a member, otherwise they're a sham. So sick of this rah rah pro union non-sense.

So, Is it the unions fault for contractrul agreements that require companies to keep jobs local? Or is it the Unions fault because non union employers sent work overseas or Wayy down south? Im fairly sure you think it is the unions fault regardless, Correct? Generally healthcare benefits are negotiated by the union in large discounts then the employer pays a portion and the company picks up the rest, to discontinue a employers healthcare without prior knowledge is unlawful and just plain bad.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

So, Is it the unions fault for contractrul agreements that require companies to keep jobs local? Or is it the Unions fault because non union employers sent work overseas or Wayy down south? Im fairly sure you think it is the unions fault regardless, Correct? Generally healthcare benefits are negotiated by the union in large discounts then the employer pays a portion and the company picks up the rest, to discontinue a employers healthcare without prior knowledge is unlawful and just plain bad.

It very well may be, but like i said, what is it you want them to do? SK as a company is totally in the toilet, they can't give their employees what they want. Would blood or a pound of flesh suffice the picketlines?

 

[krusty the clown]

countdown to lockdown........one.......two......three......

 

[Merkava_4]

Do all U.S. hand tool manufacturing employees belong to a labor union of some kind? Proto employees? Armstrong employees?

What about the Knipex dudes over in Germany, do they belong to a labor union?

 

[krusty the clown]

snap on tools are union made. i'm not sure about the others. i did find that enderes is union as well. i would doubt that any stanley or danaher plants are union since they have closed plants in the industrial belt and moved them to right to work states.

 

[Hiball]

It very well may be, but like i said, what is it you want them to do? SK as a company is totally in the toilet, they can't give their employees what they want. Would blood or a pound of flesh suffice the picketlines?

What type of Profit line did SK make last year? I cant seem to find the information on the web, but im sure they still made money and this boils down to wanting to make more at the expense of paying someone mininum wage and taking there healthcare. If that information could be found im sure there would be a different outlook on this sitsuation even coming from the anti-union crowd. I would venture that Sk has all the intensions in the world of producing tools overseas and there are using this to get there. You cant tell me that 75 employees making $14 bucks a hour + benefits would break them, It might cost there Pres and VP that new Ferrari though.

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

countdown to lockdown........one.......two......three......

Agreed

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

What type of Profit line did SK make last year? I cant seem to find the information on the web, but im sure they still made money and this boils down to wanting to make more at the expense of paying someone mininum wage and taking there healthcare. If that information could be found im sure there would be a different outlook on this sitsuation even coming from the anti-union crowd. I would venture that Sk has all the intensions in the world of producing tools overseas and there are using this to get there. You cant tell me that 75 employees making $14 bucks a hour + benefits would break them, It might cost there Pres and VP that new Ferrari though.

It might, and I'd believe it if you had some numbers to prove it.

 

[Hiball]

countdown to lockdown........one.......two......three......

A little constructive debating never hurt anyone, I just wish i could find the Sk earnings report. Do they have a parent company? It says on there website that they have been solo since 2006 or something.

 

[krusty the clown]

you won't find earnings information on the web for sk. there are only two stockholders. there is no need to issue a earnings report to stockholders if it isn't publicly traded stock.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm thinking this is one of the more interesting threads we've had in a long time; too bad it'll get locked soon.

 

[Bolster]

I find it incomprehensible that SK workers (or anyone else for that matter) think they are owed health care!

Nobody pays for my healthcare. I pay for my own. And I'm not walking around with a placard, sitting on my thumbs, boo-hooing to the media, making someone out to be a villain, because they're not paying my health care bills for me.

I pay my own health care, and I do not consider myself to be a victim because of it.

I guess that makes me stranger than a $3 bill in today's USA where everybody has their hand in someone else's pocket.

 

[paramudduck]

Ok folks read up on the background.

New movement union leaders elected right before the contact ended.

Former union president and the cfo indited for rigging elections.

Company already on ropes from a six month strike in parma ohio asks that new hires come in at 20 percent less pay until economy and buisness improves. Union refuses demands across the board raises and more benefits.

Company flatly states they can't.

Union leader starts misdirection statements tying this into national healthcare debate.

Ses fact that fugar was born in France to make it appear to be evil french company.

If you check on the web most of the news you find is from the workers party or the socialist workers news headlines.

It is a total mess. Oh yeah the gov of the state was quoted as saying health care is everyones right.

 

[Merkava_4]

I find it incomprehensible that SK workers (or anyone else for that matter) think they are owed health care!

Man.... that's a controversial statement if I've ever heard one.

 

[Bolster]

Oh sure, blame the thread shutdown on me. After all, I pay my own healthcare, therefore I'm evil.

 

[crashbumper]

 

[Merkava_4]

I got y'all beat ... my healthcare plan is paid for by the U.S. Government.