Rhodia Plant workers decide to strike
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - One of Baton Rouge's major chemical companies has been hit by a strike that appears to have surprised the company.
Members of teamsters union "Local 5" have high visibility for their walkout since the Rhodia Plant they're striking is right along U.S. 190 as it enters Baton Rouge from the old river bridge.
Rhodia deals with "hot" chemicals, such as sulphuric acid. Rhodia said it's moving non-union management personnel into position to keep the plant running, but the teamsters represent more than half the plant work force.
The teamsters say they've been offered a three percent pay raise over three years, but Rhodia will deduct future increases in health insurance premiums from those raises.
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