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NLRB to rule on union election at RathGibson

JANESVILLE — The National Labor Relations Board will visit Janesville in late May and early June to help determine the outcome of a union election at RathGibson.

In April, about 96 percent of eligible RathGibson production workers voted 60-59 in favor of representation by International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 139.

After the election, Local 139 argued that four ballots were cast by supervisors or clerical staff who were not eligible to vote. Those ballots were set aside and left for a decision by the NLRB.

Thad Steinke, organizing director for Local 139, said the union and company management have agreed that one of the ballots should not have been cast.

If the remaining three ballots, presumably votes in opposition to the union, are thrown out, the final tally would stand at 60-59 and the union would win the election. If the NLRB allows the three ballots, the final vote would likely be 62-59 in opposition to union representation.

Steinke said RathGibson workers approached the union in February with concerns that their wages and benefits have been diluted by RathGibson's acquisitions of other companies.

A company official has said RathGibson faces economic challenges and has changed some of its benefits to make them consistent from plant to plant and ensure the competitiveness of the local plant.

RathGibson was founded in 1952 in Janesville as Rath Dairy Sales Co. Today the company makes stainless steel and alloy welded tubular products.

Steinke said Tuesday he hopes the NLRB will make a final ruling on the election's outcome by the end of June.