IAM Local 1297 members in Toledo have ratified a new five-year contract with Libbey Glass, ending an 18-week strike. The approval comes after more than a year of negotiations between the union and company.
The newly approved contract provides an immediate wage increase of 14.25%, with further increases set for the coming years. Health insurance premium contributions will not rise in 2026, and favorable elements of the health plan design are retained. The agreement also includes a $3,000 signing bonus, maintains premium pay at time-and-a-half for overtime hours beyond regular schedules, and offers twelve paid holidays—eight of which fall during the Christmas and New Year’s season.
IAM District 54 President and Directing Business Representative T. Dean Wright, Jr., commented on the outcome:
“I am incredibly proud of the members of IAM Local 1297 and their families. They stood united in solidarity for 18 weeks, making tremendous personal sacrifices, including during the holiday season, to protect one another and the contractual rights they have fought for over decades. I extend my sincere gratitude to each and every one of them. I also wish to thank my staff at IAM District 54, as well as the Libbey shop committee, who worked tirelessly not only during these past four months of the strike but also through the numerous months of negotiations prior to that, in order to safeguard the rights and benefits of our members at Libbey Glass. Additionally, I would like to offer my deepest thanks to the Toledo-area community for their steadfast support throughout the strike, particularly the labor community and UAW Local 12. I would also like to specifically acknowledge the efforts of USW Locals 700T, 65T, 59M, and their members, to secure improved contracts for all workers at Libbey Glass.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) represents around 600,000 active and retired members across various industries in North America.
