Mercury Marine vote ends

FOND DU LAC - The union representing employees of Mercury Marine has ended a vote on a new contract, saying there was nothing left to vote on.

Ballot boxes were pulled as union leaders made the announcement early Monday afternoon. It was an earlier end than expected to an uncertain re-voting process for Mercury Marine union workers.

“Mercury Marine failed to contact the union by 12 noon today, therefore there is no last best and final proposal on the table for the union to vote on,” said Russell Krings, chief negotiator for the union, the International Association of Machinists.

Reading from a prepared statement, union representatives resigned to what company officials have said since Saturday's midnight deadline that the offer had officially expired.

Union leaders said there was a verbal agreement that voting would be counted if started before the deadline, while the company says that was not the case.

“You go, you’re excited, then you're devastated,” said Felipe Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has worked for Mercury for 15 years, a job that has been all his children have known.

“Saturday night they finally got the revote and my girls made signs and congratulations,” said Rodriguez. “It affects everyone from eight to 80.”

While Rodriguez is among many workers who say a few extra hours of consideration was a small request after years of service, the company says the deadline was in place because of commitments with its Oklahoma facility.

“We can certainly be sympathetic to employees who are trying to save their jobs,” said Mercury Marine spokesman Steve Fleming. “And I don't mean to be cold but I don't think the people in Stillwater don't care too much about the union guys wanting another vote.”

Union leaders say the majority of the members did come out for the re-vote but haven't said if they will release the results now that the fate appears sealed.

“It was close. We don't see the ballots we just run the election,” said Kevin Moore, a Mercury Marine employee.

A spokesman for Mercury says they are going forward with the plan to start moving the manufacturing jobs to Oklahoma.

However, company officials did meet with city and county leaders Monday. That was to talk about trying to keep an additional 800 administrative jobs here in Fond du Lac.

The company says it hopes to make its decision on those jobs sometime this week.

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