Eric Rabe Contract Quotations

We continue to negotiate, and we continue to be hopeful. However, the negotiating process is a two-way street and the unions have not been willing to approve a contract that would allow the company to remain competitive.

We have been talking with the unions since late yesterday afternoon, ... non-stop intense talks with all sides fully engaged. It remains impossible not predict when these talks will end in a contract and get people back to their jobs.

When you get to a point where you think people are ready to go home... that sometimes is helpful to have a deadline to get people focused, ... I think people are serious about getting a contract and getting things back the way they should be for customers. I think the union people are just as anxious to do that as we are.

We are asking each business unit to manage their work flow, which means managers' jobs have been eliminated, not the union positions, and we have eliminated contract work,

It's our fervent hope that we will be able to negotiate that contract and get it over as quickly as possible. We continue to believe that we've made progress and that the end of this negotiation process continues to be within reach. We believe we can reach an agreement quickly and get workers back on the job. We want this strike to be over.