Strike Ends at General Wire Spring

June 10, 2011
General Wire Spring Co., parent company of General Pipe Cleaners, and United Steel Workers last week reached an agreement to end the 14-week strike and resume work June 13.

General Wire Spring Co., parent company of General Pipe Cleaners, and United Steel Workers last week reached an agreement to end the 14-week strike and resume work June 13.

David Silverman, executive vice president of global sales, thanked customers and sales representatives for their “incredible patience and loyalty. During this difficult time in our company’s history we have been greatly humbled by your support,” Silverman said.

The company took bold steps to minimize the strike’s impact on its worldwide customers, continuing to take and fill product orders. Customer-service staff remained on duty and temporary workers sustained production pace.

According to General Wire Spring management, the recent strike was the company’s first in 35 years. They added that, since its founding in 1930, General has never had a layoff, and they noted that offers the USW accepted are almost identical to those the company proposed before the strike.

Headquartered in McKees Rocks, Pa., General Pipe Cleaners, a division of General Wire Spring Co., is a leading manufacturer of high-quality drain-cleaning equipment. General serves drain-cleaning professionals and plumbing contractors, as well as facilities managers, the rental industry and the hardware/home center market.