The crux of the reason for ratification, according to the Union, was its people would have a lot more security with a new agreement than without. That has proved to be true, because without the new agreement, the 188 CM employees would not be guaranteed a job. Rubbermaid, in announcing the relocation, said no employees would lose their job, although they will be reassigned within the plant and some will have to take lesser paying jobs, based on job classification. Keeping the jobs, though, was of little solace to Kendall on Friday. He not only sees jobs being shipped away eventually to another country, but part of the Rubbermaid heritage as well.
Compression molding is a pretty profitable department.
That's how Rubbermaid started, as a company, really. That was one area we figured would still be around down the road. We know we can compete with any company within the United States. They will have a hard time using it, and they can't fix it, and that will be the end of compression molding. That would be a shame.