In an article in the Milwaukee Journal shortly before the vote it stated the union asked for the company to put in writing that jobs would stay and in the future more would be offered to the employees. The company would not do that. The union therefore seemed to think that no matter what concessions the workers made, they were moving to Oklahoma. The company wanted to give new hires around $11 per hour. They also wanted to give employees called back from layoff $11. I did not see how long someone needed to be layed off to have their pay cut back to $11 but there would have been nothing to stop them from shutting the plant 2 weeks, calling all back at $11. The Milwaukee Journal article made me think the union was willing to meet the company some, but the company would not move even a little to help assure their workers they would have jobs. At $11 per hour it would be very difficult for a family. That would not even be $23,000 per year. After insurance and taxes, even less. How many of you could make it for 7 yrs on those wages?

Maybe once upon a time, a union had a place. It seems to me they aren't looking out for the employee anymore. In these times of trouble, the're not willing to work with anyone. It's the're way or the highway. Just my opinion.

As once said, a job is better than no job, especially if you enjoy and like working there. I read that at around 20 bucks per hour, I could deal with no pay raise for 2-3 years in a row plus a slight raise in premiums on insurance and health benefits for 20 bucks per hour. Even 15 bucks per hour is do-able for me. Everyone needs to get off their high horse in this economy and start pulling their own weight, even if it is a cost cutting measure. I have trained bachelors degree people right out of college in an office environment with my associates degree only and they cannot believe how little I get paid and said they would never work for anything less than 15 bucks per hour right out of college. I said good luck on the unemployment line and the young graduates nowadays want the money upfront and do not want to earn it or actually have to work for it. Heck, I see bachelor degree applicants all over getting paid for work doing 1/2 of what I do getting paid more. Unions and employees' all over better start taking the bad with the good times and learn to live with less, at least for the next few years.

omgwhy - Was the offer less than what they were originally making? A substantial amount less?

They (Mercury) has never let the offer out to the media!! I read it only because I have a friend who works there and he had a copy from the meeting. Perhaps there should be pressure to release the offer they made so people know the truth!

Yes, I would like to see the wages and benefits.

Don't cut the employees down unless you've seen what management offered. I did and it was ridiculous. They are TRYING to make the union look bad. They had their minds made up to move long ago. Oklahoma is NON-union!! The wage/benefit package was more like what you'd see from McDonald's -- not a huge corporation like Mercury.

im sorry i know it would be nice to keep it in wisconsin but honestly I dont feel one bit of sadness for the employees. They were told vote yes or lose your jobs basically and they voted no and as soon as mercury marine said alright were moving they realize wait we want a revote, its better to have lower pay then no job at all is a quote i read about alot. Well you found out they werent bluffing and now you want to say sorry lets redo it, in my opinion its too bad you had a chance and you blew it

Let's hear what the offer is. Let's make that public information and then hear what everyone has to say.

IDIOTS.

WOW