PCC worker strike had no end in sight

Twenty-five years ago this week, there was no end in sight for a local strike.

The June 23, 1998, edition of The Commercial Review featured coverage of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local No. 2047 strike against Pennville Custom Cabinetry of Portland.

More than 30 workers had been picketing outside the factory during the strike that began June 15, 1998. Workers were demanding better pay and benefits.

At a rally across the street from the Votaw Street facility on the evening of June 22, 1998, strikers said they had no plans to contact Pennville Custom Cabinetry officials to re-open negotiations that had broken off after the union rejected the company’s final offer before the strike.

Pennville Custom Cabinetry president Mark Goldman told The Commercial Review that the final offer was still available to the union but that he also had no plans to reopen negotiations.

“They asked for a final offer and I gave it to them,” Goldman said. “I feel like the offer was good enough.”

He noted that the raise in his offer was more than double the raise Portland Forge employees had received. (The raise offer was 30 cents in the first year, which at that time was a raise of 4% to 5%, depending on the employee.) Additional raises were offered in future years.

The contract offer also included a cost-of-living provision and adjustments to health insurance and vacation.

During the strike, the company was operating at 50% efficiency with a workforce made up mostly of temporary summer employees.

“I’m on the saws myself,” Goldman said. “Everyone is pitching in one way or another.”

He said he hoped the union would accept his final offer, but at their rally members pledged to be a more solid presence on the picket lines.