By Doug Cunningham

In Meredosia, Illinois members of the Boilermakers union Local 484 have ratified a new contract with Celanese Corporation after a bitter year-long struggle triggered by the company’s lockout of the workers. The company also used Special Response Corporation as intimidators on the picket line and in working family neighborhoods. But the union says it won by standing and fighting a giant corporation and even pushing it back a few steps. The union says workers will choose their health insurance company, wages are higher than Celanese was offering at first, there are caps on health care costs and a decent severance package for union members who won’t be going back to work. The union says it will be an enormous challenge to go back to work in the plant alongside scabs and those who betrayed the union. But Boilermakers Local 484 says its members grew during the lockout and are stronger than ever.