CAT Team Message
Late Friday night, and after months of intense negotiations, USW Local 10-00086 and Merck reached a tentative settlement on a new 3-year agreement that would run through April 30, 2013.

As we have recently reported, our negotiations grew increasingly difficult as the process dragged on.  As much as we argued, as hard as we fought to save West Point jobs, the Company simply refused to listen to our message that Merck’s USW employees – many of whom have dedicated their working lives to the success of the West Point site -- are better suited to secure and maintain the West Point facility than $10/hour day laborers.  At the end of the day, however, the Committee was able to conclude our negotiations at a point where we could protect all of our people if not their current jobs.

There are a number of provisions in the new, tentative agreement.  Many are significant improvements.  Some are not.  But considered as a whole, we believe that the tentative settlement is worthy of consideration by our full membership.

The tentative agreement will be placed before the membership for approval or rejection at a special membership meeting that will take place in the North Penn High School auditorium this coming Wednesday evening, May 12^th at 6:00 p.m.   Because of Wednesday’s vote, the regular membership meeting previously scheduled for Monday, May 10^th is cancelled.

Before then, and as promised, the full tentative agreement will be available for review and inspection by all members at various locations throughout the facility beginning Monday morning.   Every word.

All members are encouraged to attend.  We look forward to seeing you Wednesday.

- note: this is a reprint of the CAT Letter written at the conclusion of Friday Night's Negotiations.