Santa brings no resolution to Smurfit-Stone strike

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2008/dec/25/santa-brings-no-resolution-smurfit-stone-strike/?local

by Andrew Gaug
Thursday, December 25, 2008

Call it Smurfit-Stone Container employees’ lump of coal for Christmas.

Instead of drinking the eggnog or wrapping presents, employees broke out the winter wear and fire logs as they continued Day 23 of their strike.

Working in shifts, groups of workers covered several different areas of the Smurfit property. Sitting in their makeshift strike areas covered with tarps and equipped with a metal trash can for fire, the workers did the same thing they’ve done for the past three weeks — waited for any news from the company.

“It’s hard to say what anyone is thinking,” Gene Sample, a fork truck driver for the company, said.

Some of the workers said they knew the risk they were taking going into the strike and that it might go into the holidays.

“At first we weren’t sure how long this would take. We kind of knew if it’s not settled by the first week, then it’s probably going to go into the new year,” Mr. Sample said.

FULL story at link.