AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOHN T. NICCOLLAI - 8-31-2020

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOHN T. NICCOLLAI

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

KINGS BANKRUPTCY UPDATE 

COURT FILINGS AND MULTIEMPLOYER NEGOTIATIONS



President Niccollai reported today that our Bankruptcy Attorneys project that Kings will file an 1113 Motion today with the Court, which will reject the Union Contract (originally scheduled for last Friday).  This rejection would become effective when the Company is sold.  In addition, we were informed that Kings will not honor Multiemployer Negotiations and will, further, seek to bargain as an individual entity because of its bankruptcy status.  Obviously, the Union vehemently opposes both actions taken by the Company.

We understand that the Company has presented information to the membership, assuring them that they will continue to operate as a Union Company with medical coverage and a Pension Plan.  We would ask then, if that is the case why are they seeking to reject the Union Contract?  It also appears the Union and the Company are engaged in a battle of semantics. When we talk about a Pension Plan, we mean the outstanding Defined Benefit Plan that we have presently in effect; not some 401K poor substitution.  Also, when the Union talks about a Medical Plan, we mean an all-inclusive, no co-pay Plan; not some inferior wannabe type of coverage with large deductibles, co-pays, and exclusions.  The mere fact that the Company wants out of both our Pension Plan and Medical Plan is not because they can do it better, it’s because they want to do it cheaper with something inferior.

In recent years, we have seen several Employers go bankrupt not because of the Union Contracts, but because they failed to run their Companies effectively.  Unfortunately, whenever a Company declares bankruptcy, the first excuse is the Union and the solution is to try and turn the Company around off the backs of the workers.  Nothing is more untrue and is more unfair.

The Unions involved in the Kings Bankruptcy will be spending substantial amounts of money to provide the membership with the expert representation they deserve.  We will do everything humanly possible to provide the best result to the most difficult situation.  We know that members are angry and members are worried, but neither one of those emotions will help us achieve a positive result to this most difficult sequence of events.

There are a number of positive fact patterns working in favor of us as follows:

1. All the Local Unions holding Collective Bargaining Agreements with Kings are working in concert.

2. Our International Union is rendering total assistance to the problem.

3. Our Bankruptcy Attorneys are among the very best in the profession.

4. Our membership is militant over the issues and loyal to the Union.

5. The Company understands that the Kings workforce is extremely knowledgeable and vital to success in the future.

We ask all our Kings members to stay informed and understand the Union is committed to you and your families.



WORK SMARTLY – WORK SAFELY