GE employees back at work after 2-day strike

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Striking workers at General Electric Co. were back on the job Thursday following a two-day strike to protest higher out-of-pocket health care costs imposed by the corporate giant.

The strike involved almost 18,000 employees at 48 locations in 23 states, union officials said. Workers returned to regular shifts at 11 p.m. Wednesday.

In a move that could foreshadow further labor unrest this summer, GE on Thursday was still seeking court orders against pickets who blocked access to three Albany-area work sites. GE also planned to address the issue with the National Labor Relations Board.

"I think relations are going to strained for a while," said Jose Fernandez, president of IUE Local 301 in Schenectady. "Hopefully the company heard our message loud and clear."

Unionists said the two-day vigil signaled their resolve if contract negotiations turn sour later this year. The current three-year contract expires in mid-June, with talks expected to start a month earlier.

The strike was called to protest increases in some health care co-payments by workers. The increase took effect Jan. 1 for services including prescription drugs and visits to specialists and hospitals.

GE said the co-payments rose by about $200 per employee. Union officials said the increases will cost the average worker an extra $300 to $400 a year and will especially hurt pensioners.

It was the first national walkout at GE since 1969, when workers were off the job for about 14 weeks.

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On the Net:

http://www.ge.com

http://www.geworkersunited.org