Safran Won’t Deal with Black Women in Mississippi

The union says that although they tried to find middle ground, they have been met by a brick wall.

Black women at Safran’s aircraft engine plant in Mississippi have not had a pay increase since 2018, are not entitled to sick days and have had to work throughout the pandemic. Yet Safran is refusing to bargain in good faith with IndustriALL affiliate Workers United, the global union claims.

Workers United has bargained with Safran since September for a new agreement. Negotiations broke down when the employer refused to accept pay increases for the coming three years and insisted that they would be able to use any criteria to lay-off or recall workers. Safran already has the right to lay-off and recall employees in tiers of most efficient workers and least efficient workers. Safron Engine did not immediately respond to a request for comment or clarification.

The union said today that “We are prepared to meet Safran, a multi-billion-dollar company, in the middle to find a way forward to come up with a reasonable contract that will benefit the success of the plant and the workers. How is it fair for Safran to ask for the women, who are already low-wage workers, to continue to sacrifice?” IndustriALL and Safran signed a global framework agreement in 2017 on working conditions, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.

The union says that although they tried to find middle ground, they have been met by a brick wall. “In the spirit of our joint global framework agreement, I urge you to intervene immediately to ensure that Safran in Mississippi extends the union contract and engages in genuine bargaining with Workers United,” said IndustriALL general secretary Valter Sanches.