"DDE workers enlisted their family members to express their frustration regarding the lack of a fair and equitable pension and retirement plan," said Local 5-2002 President Carl Goodman. "A majority of the PACE members will face reduced pensions and other serious financial strains on their family."

    "I saw the plant manager on TV last week and I couldn’t believe the nerve of that guy," said Pamela Witek, daughter of David Collins, a 50-year-old worker with 29 years of service. "He said workers would get a full pension if they just left it alone. But who has six years to wait when you’ve got mouths to feed and tuition to pay for? I bet he and his family don’t have anything to worry about. It’s not like we are asking to break the bank, we just want a fair shake."

    DDE is the joint venture started in 1996 between Dupont (NYSE: DD) and Dow Chemical. DDE told its Louisville work force last September it was planning to close the facility in 2005 and move the neoprene manufacturing process to its La Place, La., plant. The union met with the company to enhance workers’ retirement and pension benefits, but DDE rejected all meaningful proposals the union offered.

    A DDE worker earns full pension benefits after achieving both 58 years of age and 27 years of service. "However, even though most of the members will achieve the 27 years of service by the time the plant closes, a majority will still be under 58 years old and face a five percent loss in pension for each year under age 58," said Goodman. "Most will suffer serious financial strains on their family, including medical bills, house payments or even if they can afford to send their children to college."

    "This puts college for our daughter and all our other plans in doubt, said Brilla Wetzel, wife of Wyatt Wetzel, a 47-year-old worker with 27 years of service. "Plus, this shutdown affects the whole community when you lose over 200 good-paying jobs. Waitresses, small business owners, and other stores will all feel the pain here, especially if people have to move away."

    Yesterday’s rally was part of the union’s DuPont Council campaign. The council consists of five PACE-represented locations, and aims to improve workers’ rights at the company and its affiliates.

    PACE International Union represents 320,000 workers in the oil, chemical, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical, atomic, kaolin, auto parts and corn milling industries. www.paceunion.org.

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