Settlment Brings Back Pay, Medical Help for Die Casting Workers

Press Release

A settlement announced Thursday means 70 former workers of the now defunct Quad City Die Casting will receive $95,000 in earned vacation pay and $45,000 for medical bills.

The National Labor Relations Board ruled the United Electrical Workers Union members "rightfully earned" vacation pay owed for 2009 and health insurance benefits that they were denied when the plant closed in May.

The settlement was announced at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall in Moline by State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. He and other speakers criticized Wells Fargo Bank because it did not extend more credit to Quad City Die Casting.

The National Labor Relations Board ruled that High Ridge Partners, the successor/assignee of Quad City Die Casting, engaged in unfair labor practices. Pat Cavanaugh of High Ridge Partners did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The settlement decision resolves the legal charges filed by the union during the 10-month fight to get the earned vacation time and payment for medical bills that were incurred when the company retroactively canceled workers' insurance.

Mr. Giannoulias, Reps. Phil Hare, D-Rock Island, and Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo, and Gov. Pat Quinn failed in a battle on behalf of the workers to keep the plant open so that about 100 jobs could be saved.

Among the former workers present for the announcement was Deb Johann, the recording secretary of UE Local 1174 and a 32-year employee of QCDie Casting.

"There's a lot of people out there that are owed thousands and thousands of dollars on health bills that should have been paid while we working and Wells Fargo should be ashamed of themselves for what they did to us people at the shop," Ms. Johann said. "Hopefully we'll be receiving our vacation in probably three to four months when the sale of the building is done."

Leah Fried, UE field organizer, said workers will be paid for back vacation time as the company's assets continue to be sold off. The health insurance component of the settlement is expected to resolve medical bills immediately by paying providers 50 cents on the dollar for claims.

About 35 Die Casting supervisors and managers are not involved in the settlement because they are not UE members, Ms Fried said.

Mr. Giannoulias stressed workers are happy their requests were answered, but Thursday was not a day of celebration. He credited all those who contributed to this cause, particularly the workers who continue to struggle with enormous challenges including - for many - unemployment.

"It's nice to have some semblance of good news, but then you talk to these folks and they still - at the end of the day - they don't have jobs. And it's heartbreaking that people have worked so hard and for so long. They never complained. It's not an easy job, but they never complained. They never wanted anything special; they just wanted to know there's a job."

Mr. Giannoulias criticized Wells Fargo for receiving $25 billion in tax payer money through TARP funds and not doing everything it could to keep the doors of the plant open. He said the decision showed their lack of concern for every day people.

"It's offensive. It's really offensive," he said.

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