Morgan AM&T contract ratified

By a slender four-vote margin, unionized workers at the Morgan AM&T plant (formerly Pure Carbon Co.), east of Coudersport, ratified a new three-year labor agreement.

Vote on the pact was 111-107 in favor. More than 90 employees did not participate in the vote, which was held at the Coudersport Consistory on Saturday.

The thin margin of passage was traced to dissatisfaction with the requirement that employees pay a higher percentage of health insurance premiums, as well as some sentiment that per-hour pay increases were inadequate.

On the other hand, supporters were satisfied with the total package of wage increases, greater employer contributions to 401(k) retirement plans over the next three years, and other aspects of the labor agreement. It was hammered out between management and local representatives of the IUE-CWA, the industrial division of the Communication Workers of America.

Morgan AM&T is revising its production activities. Its traditional carbon product line is being phased out, while orders increase for manufacture of armor for military and private sector customers.

With the union contract now settled, the company is expected to more forward with an 18,000 sq. ft. addition.

The Coudersport plant is a valuable component of parent company Morgan Crucible's operations. Morgan, based in England, has acquired Aceram, a Canadian company that's a leader in armor technology, as part of its expansion into the body armor business.

The company's history in Potter County dates back nearly 50 years. Groundbreaking was held by the Coudersport Chamber of Commerce on the Norman Leete farm in November 1957.

By January 1959, the 36,000 sq. ft. building was open for production, with a workforce of 63. At that time, Pure Carbon produced carbon brushes for electric motors and related products.

As the product line evolved, expansions took place in 1967, 1972 and 1974, for a total of 120,000 sq. feet.