With negotiations to settle a work-stoppage between Libbey, Inc. and two of its four unions at its Toledo, OH, factory continuing, company officials told HOMEWORLD BUSINESS® on Tuesday, October 18, that they do not anticipate supply disruptions for its retail customers.
“In preparation for a possible work stoppage, Libbey has built inventory levels of critical items and many of the items produced in Toledo can be produced at our Shreveport [LA] facility if necessary,” a company official told HomeWorld.
Currently, members of GMP Local 59 and IAM Lodge 105 are on strike. In addition, members of USW 700T and USW Local 65T, each of which had reached an agreement with their respective contracts, have walked off the job to honor the picket line, according to reports from Toledo-area media outlets.
Company officials said its Toledo facility is currently operating with a combination of its own employees and trained temporary workers. If the work stoppage continues, additional temporary workers may be hired.
According to published reports, workers went on strike over concerns regarding mandatory overtime, health insurance costs, cost-of-living increases and changes in the process in how the company can set or amend workplace rules.
