Meet the workers on strike at T&W Stamping who make oil pans for semi trucks and airplanes—and make money for their employer.
These are real people. They’re neighbors, husbands and dads. They have kids and rent and mortgages and everyday bills. And they just want to get back to the bargaining table in good faith—so they can get back to work. Read their story.
Nick Dewell, 20 years, President: “We’ve gone four years with no raise or retirement benefits. The economy went up and we stayed the same. It’s not like we were making a lot of money or asking for much.”
Corey Shofroth, 20 years, Secretary-Treasurer: “I’ve been here 20 years and I never thought we would [strike]… Hopefully they come back to the table and meet us in the middle. We’re not asking for a lot."
Mark McCoy, 19 years: “When we asked for a raise, [T&W Stamping president Jessy Vandygriff] just went nuts and said ‘over my dead body.’ I’m close to retirement, but it’s not like I’ve been able to save a lot of money for it on what we make.”
Tony Rozzi, 15 years: “It was a hard pill to swallow at first, but we knew it was coming. Hopefully we can get back in there. We all deserve a raise, because we do a good, quality job and get their product out. We’re not asking for much, but the more it goes on, the harder it is.”
Dave Pratt, 15 years: “I hope to retire from here. I don’t want to have to go somewhere else if I don’t have to, but that’s not up to me now, is it.”
Ron DeGenaro, 14 years, Trustee: “I’ve worked in the building for 30 years. Started on the line when it was Bliss, then Quaker and now T&W. I had surgery a month ago and was out on leave. A week later, we went on strike.”
Frank Fowler, 14 years, Recording Secretary: “It’s a struggle. I’ve lost my benefits; taken a cut in pay…I’ve made some cutbacks and concessions, but we’ll get by.”
Bob Silman, 14 years: “We’re not asking for the moon. This place wasn’t always profitable, and we helped make it profitable, and now he just wants to throw us away like we’re nothing.”
Greg Cunningham, 13 years, Vice-President: “This is bullshit.”
Reed Adams, 10 years: “The orders for the product have gone up, but not the pay. We worked all through the pandemic and kept things going. We’re still making the same amount.”
T.J. King, 10 years: “For the past 10 years [this job] has been everything. I don’t want to go anywhere else. This was my home, and I love these guys. After 10 years, we’ve built great relationships. We’re like family.”
Chuck Schisler, 9 years: “I didn’t think it would come to this. This is a great group of guys—very loyal to this place, yet they have no loyalty to us. I hope [Jessy Vandygriff] sees how ridiculous this is and that there are good guys out here. He’s being stubborn for no reason. It’s not right. “If it wasn’t for these guys, I might go look for something else. Honestly, we’re looking for very little here.”
Sean McCollum, 7 years, Acting Chairman of Trustees: “I have two little ones at home, and I’m trying to show them that you’ve got to stand for something… We have families. We have goals we want to reach. My kids know I go to work and I work hard, and I want to be able to show them, ‘Look what real hard work does when you put your time in.’ “I just want to be able to get back in and make more money. People are tired and we need to make a stand. We need to be compensated for what we’re doing.”
Anthony Bailey, 9 months: “I came in as a temp, and I’m still making temp pay. You know where this is coming from? It’s [Jessy VandyGriff’s] ego.”
