Remington Update
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 6 months ago
Ilion, N.Y. — The Remington Arms factory in the Herkimer County village of Ilion has reopened, eight months after its previous owner closed the plant and laid off more than 700 workers.
Richmond Italia, managing partner for RemArms owner Roundhill Group LLC, said in an email that the company has called back 230 workers to the factory, with plans for starting production with the Model 870 shotgun line, according to the Times Telegram.
Phil Smith, director of communications and governmental affairs for the United Mine Workers of America, said 120 hourly workers are among those who have been called back to work.
The reopening comes a little more than a month after the union announced it had reached an agreement with Roundhill that recognizes the union as the hourly employees’ collective bargaining agent when they return to work, establishes a recall process for more former Remington workers to be called back, and sets up a 60-day timeframe for the parties to begin negotiating a full labor contract.
Well that all sounds depressing. A union is still in control, they will negotiate a contract, and their main product is going to be the 870, which will have to compete with both new and time-honored shotguns from Savage, Beretta, Benelli, and others.
On May 11, 2021 at 9:44 pm, Ozark Redneck said:
Obviously (to you and me) they need to move to a work friendly state. But we continue to see the same insanity by different owners…
On May 11, 2021 at 11:04 pm, George 1 said:
I agree. Not a good state to start or re-start a weapon manufacturing business. In the last decade Remington has had a few less than successful products brought to market and a few real duds. They may sell a few 870s to police departments. I don’t think the public is clamoring for them to return but we shall see.
Whatever they do they need to produce some quality products. If they do the same things they were doing before they closed shop the re-opening will be short lived.
On May 12, 2021 at 4:57 am, Jack said:
“” United Mine Workers of America””
“” collective bargaining agent””
Uh huh
On May 12, 2021 at 8:26 am, Bram said:
I could not care less about Remington Arms. As long as Vista Outdoors has the ammo factory back up to full production, I’m happy.
On May 12, 2021 at 9:43 am, Sisu said:
Ozark Redneck,
The current insanity is more likely among the “workers” who through willing self-deception (and insecurity in their own individual capabilities) ignore that both “owner / managers” and “union ‘leaders'” first and foremost do that which benefits them not the workers.
Pure speculation would suggest that Roundhill Group is merely generating publicity, maintaining “goodwill” associated with the Remington name and Model 870 reputation, and some cashflow “to boot”. Their agreement with UMW is likely short lived, and is silent regarding the future of the Ilion plant.
The prior Freedom Group insanity was actually “elitist arrogance” (aka “stupidity” among the “too smart” for you an me former government insiders at Cerberus, their “experts” at corporate roll-ups, dividend strip and harvest strategies.
It will be an interesting “case study” as it evolves into the future. But, I don’t believe the Remington name holds much value.
On May 12, 2021 at 1:10 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
The current reorganization is the perfect opportunity for Remington to start over someplace else…. so why are they still flogging the dead horse known as NY state? Why do business in an environment which is explicitly hostile to you and to your customers? And why support same with your corporate taxes?
On May 13, 2021 at 9:39 am, Sisu said:
@GeorgiaBoy61 In addition to my speculation above, it could be that the UMW were going to object to the sale if the Ilion operations were not restarted for a period. Or, restarting operations without the benefit of experienced employees was judged too risky. One could go to the court’s docket and look through the filings including the asset purchase agreement to gain better insight.
On May 13, 2021 at 1:42 pm, ExpatNJ said:
“A union is still in control” – Herschel.
And, unions won’t give-up without a fight. Remington is doomed.
In April 2021, Amazon warehouse workers in Alabama overwhelmingly voted against joining the “Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union”. Doesn’t matter; RWDSU wants NLRB (US National Labor Relations Board) to nullify the results, and order another vote.
If your Communist/Socialist gang doesn’t win the first time around, you just keep trying until you do …