After Nearly One Year, New Era Workers Agree To New Pact

Striking workers at NY-based New Era Cap Co., which produces caps for MLB, as well as other pro and college sports, "will return to their jobs" July 8 after "decisively approving a four-year labor contract" yesterday, according to Matt Glynn of the BUFFALO NEWS, who notes the vote was 125-36. Workers, who had been striking since last July, approved the "same proposal they had rejected" on Monday by a vote of 99-73. Workers of America Local 14177 VP/Communications Kathy Ketterer said that a "key concern of workers — whether strike benefits would continue to be paid to striking workers who were not immediately called back — wasn't clarified until Monday morning, after more than 100 workers had cast ballots." Glynn writes, "Not all the workers will return immediately because the Derby plant, located about 20 miles south of Buffalo, first needs to staff up and create greater production flow for its other departments" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/28).