3-TO-1 MARGIN

By Scott Moyers ~ Southeast Missourian

JACKSON, Mo. -- Employees at Nordenia USA have solidly voted to reject the Teamsters union by nearly a 3-1 margin.

The workers at the packaging company voted 176-66 against joining the union during a two-day secret ballot on Tuesday and Wednesday.

There are 325 employees at the plant, which is located at the intersection of Route J and Highway 77 across the street from Procter & Gamble.

"The outcome sends a clear message that Nordenia USA employees prefer to be treated as individuals," said Paul Wiedlin, Nordenia president. "I think the solid majority of the people didn't want a union, and that was reflected in the vote."

Wiedlin said some employees were interested in union representation because of "internal" issues.

"We had some people that had gotten upset and decided they were going to do something," he said.

Wiedlin said he did not want to make any comments about why there was a union campaign.

Seeking respect

But Robert Hutchings, the head of the Cape Girardeau office of Teamsters Local 574, said that those workers who were interested in joining a union had complained of a lack of "respect in the workplace."

Hutchings said the company had taken some personal days from workers and had cut the pay of some without explanation. After the union campaign started, the company gave the paid days back, Hutchings said, but made them harder to take.

"But I think there was a fear factor, too," Hutchings said. "I think that the employees were afraid of management and I think that's the main thing that hurt us."

Hutchings said another vote cannot be held for at least a year, but declined to predict whether or not that would happen.

Wiedlin declined to address Hutchings' claims.

"I would just ask Mr. Hutchings to look at the results," Wiedlin said. "They speak for themselves."

Wiedlin said he'd rather keep his focus on the company.

"We've always had great people, and we still have great people," he said. "The majority of the people believe in the direction we're taking and we're working as a team to serve our customers. It's behind us now."

Nordenia USA, which opened north of Cape Girardeau as M&W Packaging more than a decade ago, started out making flexible packaging for Procter & Gamble, but has since expanded its services to many clients.

It is a subsidiary of Nordenia International, a German corporation with manufacturing facilities worldwide.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137