By Paula Pyzik Scott

On the evening of Thursday, October 22, members of Local 1385 of the Workers United Chicago and Midwest Joint Board approved a new contract with Wilson Sporting Goods in Ada, Ohio. The contract passed with a vote of 62-30.

Local president Derek Gibson told the Icon that this is the closest workers have come to striking at the plant. There were five union members in the bargaining committee, who were all new to negotiations. The contract is good for three years and will expire in October 2029.

Union workers make statement on negotiations with Wilson Football Factory

By Alec Keller

A group of workers from the Wilson Football Factory in Ada addressed the council at the October 20 regular meeting regarding ongoing labor negotiations. Workers expressed concern over the company’s most recent offer, which includes raising employee health insurance contributions from 15% to 19%.

Derek Gibson, President of Local 1385 of the Workers United Chicago and Midwest Joint Board, explained that the proposal directly impacts take-home pay for local families. “It’s coming at a time where groceries, rent, and utilities keep going up,”

Gibson said. Union members voted 89-1 last Thursday to reject the company's offer and have filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against the company.

However, the union agreed to return to the negotiating table with Wilson management this week under a 7-day contract extension expiring at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 23. A vote will be taken on the evening of Thursday, October 22.

“We want to settle this, we want to keep making the best footballs in the world right here in Ada,” Gibson stated. “But we want a fair contract to continue making these balls. When Wilson’s workers do well, Ada does well. Our paychecks are spent in this town, our families live in this town.”