Mercury Marine, union discuss ways to keep plant open

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.jsonline.com/business/52989132.html

By Rick Barrett of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: Aug. 11, 2009 5:08 p.m.

Mercury Marine Inc. and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers met Tuesday to discuss keeping the Fond du Lac outboard-engine factory open instead of moving it to Stillwater, Okla.

The union and company met for about seven hours and resolved some agenda items, according to the company, which said that more talks were scheduled for Wednesday and possibly Thursday and Friday.

Mercury is considering moving its Fond du Lac operations, employing about 2,000 people, to Stillwater unless the company finds ways to reduce its costs here.

If a tentative agreement is reached, union members would then have to vote on whether to approve any plan.