<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1OEK3w_1GnbNdLm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1OEK3w_1GnbNdLm00" width="936" height="598" ><figcaption>Results of a vote on Sunday, Nov. 1, by the members of UAW Local No. 1002 were posted on the door of the union hall in Middleville, marking the approval of a new six-year contract with Bradford White, the Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of water, space heating and storage products. Workers, who walked off the job at midnight on Sept. 16, were slated to return to work Wednesday, Nov. 4. Photo by Dennis Mansfield</figcaption></figure>Workers at the Bradford White manufacturing plant in Middleville are back at work.Members of UAW Local No. 1002, which represents nearly 1,300 employees at the Middleville plant, approved a new six-year contract with the Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of water, space heating and storage products on Sunday, Nov. 1, ending what had been a nearly seven-week strike.According to union officials, 58.6 percent of the workers voting on Sunday cast their ballots in favor of the new contract. It was the fourth vote by union members since the strike began at midnight on Sept. 16, following the expira­tion of the previous six-year con­tract between the two sides on Sept. 1.A little less than 62 percent voted on Oct. 23 to turn down a potential contract. That reportedly follows two previous votes by workers, with the second tally being voted down by nearly 95 percent of those voting.But the picket lines were absent outside the manufacturing plant after the weekend, with the new deal being approved.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3pmCqT_1GnbNdLm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3pmCqT_1GnbNdLm00" width="673" height="395" ><figcaption>Workers walking outside the entrances of Bradford White’s Middleville facility were absent on Tuesday, Nov. 3. That was after members of UAW Local No. 1002 voted to approve a new six-year contract just two days earlier, ending what had been a nearly seven-week strike. Photo by Dennis Mansfield</figcaption></figure>“We’re going back to work,” said Randy Tobias, bargaining chair­man for UAW Local No. 1002, on Tuesday afternoon. “The strike is over.“Our third shift starts up tonight (Tuesday). Everyone will be back at work tomorrow,” he added.The new agreement provides for $2 per hour pay increases in its first year and 50-cent hikes for each of the next three years. Employees would then receive increases of 45 cents per hour in each of the last two years of the contract.Tobias said the contract also restructures the previous vacation policy, in which workers were mandated to take their two weeks of time off during mandated shut-down periods. Under the new agreement, they’ll be able to take paid time off whenever they desire.He added union negotiators were also able to fend off any changes to existing insurance plans.“We are pleased to share that our employees represented by Local 1002 voted to ratify a new collective bargain­ing agreement,” Bradford White officials stated in a prepared statement released after Sunday’s vote. “The agreement provides meaningful wage increases and valuable benefits for our employees and their families, upholding our commit­ment to being a leading manufacturing employer in West Michigan.“We look forward to welcoming our team back to the plant to support the production of the high-quality water heating solutions our customers depend on,” they added. “Together, we’ll move forward stronger, united by our shared commitment to our customers and the continued success of Bradford White.”In talking with union members, Tobias said the pay increases were a key factor, as workers looked to battle rising costs and the impact of inflation.“It’s huge,” said Tobias, a third-gener­ation employee at the Middleville plant. “This (negotiating) committee got a $2 per hour bump in the first year. They did good.“It’s a move in the right direction,” he added. “I can live with it. I’m happy to be going back to work.”According to a copy of the previous contract posted online on the union’s website, starting salaries in 2025 at the Middleville plant varied from $16 an hour to just under $31 an hour, depend­ing on the position.The union’s negotiating committee had been seeking a shorter deal, rather than a repeat of the previous six-year contract. Tobias said negotiators were successful — kind of — in achieving that goal. While the new contract is for six years overall, the agreement can be reopened after four years.Tobias said some of the other issues addressed in the deal were seniority for overtime and “solid” updates to griev­ance procedures.“There were some good pluses,” he said. “There were some gains and some losses. When neither side is happy, it’s a good contract.”Overall, Tobias added that he believes the decision to strike and the resulting contract will benefit the locals’ mem­bership.“I’m glad we did it,” he said. “I’m glad we stood our ground.”</div></body>

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Workers at the Bradford White manufacturing plant in Middleville are back at work. Members of UAW Local No. 1002, which represents nearly 1,300 employees at the Middleville plant, approved a new six-year contract with the Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of water, space heating and storage products on Sunday, Nov. 1, ending what had been a nearly seven-week strike.

‘I’m glad we stood our ground’

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Workers at the Bradford White manufacturing plant in Middleville are back at work. Members of UAW Local No. 1002, which represents nearly 1,300 employees a

‘I’m glad we stood our ground’

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