GE/Wabtec Workers to Get Unemployment Compensation After Strike Ruled 'Lockout'
Erie News Now has confirmed that the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry's Office of Unemployment Compensation will provide unemployment insurance payments to over 1,400 union employees who walked off the job at the Wabtec GE Transportation plant on February 26th.
The work stoppage began the day after Wabtec closed on the deal to purchase GE Transportation, including the Erie plant, and lasted for nine days. The union and company agreed to a 90-day interim contract to end the walk out.
UE 506 Union President Scott Slawson and other union leaders maintained that the employees were locked out, because Wabtec declined their final offer.
Wabtec officials maintained that the union took a prior strike vote and followed through on their plans.
State Representative Pat Harkins, said his office was involved with the process. He said the Department of Labor and Industry ruled last week that the union members were locked out, because the federal mediator involved walked out of the talks, failing to convey the union's offer to the company.
We asked Wabtec for a response, they issued this statement:
“We are disappointed in the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s Office of Unemployment Compensation’s decision to award employees on strike in Erie from February 26 – March 6 with unemployment insurance. Wabtec maintains its position that UE employees chose to strike and were encouraged repeatedly to come back to work. As the decision is inconsistent with Pennsylvania law—which states that employees on strike are not eligible for unemployment benefits—Wabtec will be filing an appeal.”