Justin Schneider, Herald Bulletin
Former employees of Guide Corp.'s Anderson plant have accepted compensation packages and a closing agreement, according to a union official.
Ollie Dixon, vice president of United Auto Workers Local 663, said workers voted overwhelmingly to ratify the terms of a Special Attrition Plan and Closure Agreement presented by Guide, General Motors Corp. and UAW International on Wednesday.
"I heard that 97 percent voted yes, but I can't confirm it," Dixon said. "About half an hour ago, I finished talking to the shop committee in Monroe, and they already confirmed that it had passed there."
The vote of workers in Anderson and Guide's Monroe, La., plant will be combined to determine the fate of the automotive lighting manufacturer. According to the News Star in Monroe, a shop chairman for United Autoworkers Local 1977 confirmed that 73 percent of employees voted in favor of the deal.
Should those results hold up, Guide employees will have 45 days to choose from seven options, including retirement, transfer, buyout and layoff. Workers will have another seven days to reconsider their choice.
Local 663 President Steve Lewis could not be reached for comment. Vote tallies could not be confirmed because the union hall was closed on Thursday.
Guide closed abruptly on Jan. 12, six months ahead of schedule and two years short of the March 20, 2009, expiration of the current contract. More than 1,200 people worked at Guide's Anderson plant and another 150 at its Pendleton headquarters.
The company was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1906 as a motor vehicle lamp repair shop called Guide Motor Lamp Co. It was later acquired by GM before being spun off in 1998. During its most prosperous years, Guide employed 6,500 people.