Light gives thoughts on strike

NORWALK — The workers at Borgers USA in Norwalk have gone on strike, demanding union recognition. Norwalk mayor Dave Light said unions are always a controversial topic these days. Unions were created to ensure safe working conditions and regulated working hours. Now, unions help provide better wages and benefits. Light previously worked for Norwalk Furniture, a union shop. When union negotiations went on there, Light said it was amicable. "There has to be a common-sense, middle-of-the-road approach to things so everybody is happy at the end of the day and the company can still make a profit," he said. "Borgers was a huge blessing to our community to come into town and provide jobs." Borgers has continued to grow since coming to Norwalk. In 2017, Borgers added 150,00 square feet of space for new projects. Light said the company could expand again but officials have said they don't have the workforce. On Jan. 15, Borgers workers delivered a letter to Borgers USA CEO Jochen Hamerling, demanding that the company recognize the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board of Workers United as the exclusive bargaining agent for workers at the plant. However, the company refused, prompting the lopsided strike vote over the holiday weekend, according to the release. Workers at Borgers USA in Norwalk hit the picket line at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and returned Friday morning. Workers at the Tier 1 auto-parts supplier voted to authorize a union recognition strike Monday by a 98 percent to 2 percent margin, Workers United said in a release. While he doesn't know the exact situation at Borgers, Light said he can understand both sides of the argument concerning unions. "People are going to go to whoever pays the most money and you can't blame them for that," he said. "It's hard in this day and age to support yourself on $14 an hour." Light said he knows people who drive daily from Willard to work at Ventura Sandusky, which has a union. "There are successful companies in Ohio who are not unions that take care of their employees," he said. "Workers are demanding higher wages and better benefits." Light said whether or not a union will be recognized will depend on if the company and employees can work something out. "I don't know what the demands of the workers are, but I know I appreciate Borgers being here in Norwalk and providing the jobs that they are," he said. "They produce a lot of stuff for the automotive industry and it seems like they're here to stay. I'm just glad they're here."