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Contract discussion

BEVERLY – Armstrong World Industries in Beverly is negotiating with union officials to work out a new contract, as the current one expires today, officials said.

Armstrong officials and Teamsters Local 175 have been in negotiations regarding the new contract for several days.

Jennifer Johnson, senior manager of corporate communication for Armstrong World Industries, told The Inter-Mountain Friday the negotiations “were progressing” but declined to comment regarding whether or not an agreement would be reached by today’s deadline.

Calls to Dana Scott, union representative for Teamsters Local 175 at the Beverly plant, were not returned by press time Friday.

The expiring contract was agreed upon in April 2011 after negotiations lasting more than a month.

On Feb. 17, 2011, Armstrong employees turned down the company’s final contract offer by a vote of 294 to 149 before the deadline expired.

Teamsters Local 175 submitted a counter-offer on March 3, 2011, but it was not accepted by the company.

On March 18, 2011, union workers staged a picket of the Beverly plant for two hours before clocking into their shift as part of the union’s strategy to negotiate a new contract.

On April 1, 2011, Armstrong and the union met and agreed on a contract with a vote of 321 to 49. Employees of the plant stayed on the job while the two parties attempted to reach an agreement.

On Nov. 3, 2011, Armstrong officials announced the company would lay off 116 workers from the Beverly plant, including five salary employees. Armstrong corporate officials cited economic concerns, and a down housing market as the reason for the layoffs.

On Dec. 4, 2012, Armstrong officials reported the company would add 145 new jobs to its Beverly plant. The company said the influx of new employees was due to an improvement in the economy and particularly in the home construction industry.

According to the company’s web site, Armstrong World Industries Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of floors, ceilings and cabinets. Based in Lancaster, Pa., Armstrong World Industries was founded in 1860 and runs 32 plants in eight countries, according to its website.

Contact Chad Clem by email at cclem@theintermountain.com.

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