By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – A strike by workers at the Eastman Machine Company in downtown Buffalo has ended, but a contract stalemate continues.
The workers decided to return their jobs Monday. They had walked out on March 12th. Company management and officials of the United Auto Workers union say they will continue to negotiate.
Eastman President Robert Stevenson said there were no winners in the strike. He said the company needs to be able to compete in the global marketplace.
"Our intent was to maintain a manufacturing facility in Buffalo. I feel strongly about this. I'm very committed to the area," Stevenson said. "But in order to do this, we need to have a competitive contract."
Eastman Machine, which employs 125 people, makes equipment for cutting cloth and other materials.