After months of negotiations, United Steelworkers union members at the 3M chemicals plant in Cottage Grove on Monday accepted the company’s most recent contract proposal.
Union members voted to accept the most recent proposal rather than strike. Two weeks ago, union members rejected a contract proposal from 3M by a 5-1 ratio.
Workers at the plant have been on contract extensions since the previous three-year contract expired in mid-August, 3M spokeswoman Fanna Haile-Selassie said.
“Both parties have agreed to a four-year contract,” she said. “We look forward to our continued relationship with the USW.”
Negotiations between Maplewood-based 3M and the union started in July. Members voted before Labor Day to give strike authorization to union leaders to demonstrate the urgency of reaching an agreement. Protests have been staged at the plant, though the workers did not strike.
The previous contract covered roughly 400 workers at the plant.
Local union leadership could not be reached for comment. No details on the terms of the contract have been released.