Mersen: Mersen in Columbia joins CWA union to address better worker wages, safety concerns

(Left) Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald; U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee, 5th Congressional District; Eric Gaujioty, Mersen Executive Vice President of Materials; Mersen CEO Luc Themelin; Columbia Vice Mayor Randy McBroom and Mersen Columbia-based General Manager Lance Butler cut the ribbon during a celebration of the $70 million expansion of France-based company Mersen, a producer of graphite, on Santa Fe Pike in Columbia, Tenn. on July 11, 2023. Workers at the Columbia graphite-giant Mersen plant have chosen to join the industrial division of the Communications Workers of America, following a vote Monday by the National Labor Relations Board. Mersen, a French multinational conglomerate specializing in electrical power and advanced materials, employs 60 workers at the Columbia plant. The company held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 11, 2023, drawing locally-elected officials and hundreds of supporters in the business community. Monday's vote, which was 39-13, represents a key moment for the company's employees aiming to address issues like low wages, safety concerns and a lack of job progression. Eric Guajioty, executive Vice President of Mersen, speaks about opening their location in Columbia, Tenn. on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. "We are proud of what we've accomplished by standing together to form a union," said Tracy Jones, a worker involved in the organizing process. "We look forward to working with Mersen to create a safer and more structured workplace and to secure fair wages for everyone." According to a CWA press release, workers at the Columbia facility have raised concerns about the lack of a clear pay structure, highlighting the need for more equitable compensation that reflects the varying levels of skill and responsibility across different roles. "Additionally, there are no formal pathways for temporary workers, which the company heavily relies on, to become full-time employees, a situation that has led to frustration among the workforce," the press release states. "Safety issues have also been a major driver of the union effort, with employees reporting frequent incidents and injuries due to the demanding nature of the work, which often involves exposure to high temperatures and workers working far apart in isolation of each other." Mersen has recently experienced significant growth, particularly in the U.S. In 2023, the company reported $1.27 billion in global sales, $486 million of which came from the U.S. Luc Themlein, chief executive officer of at Mersen, speaks during a press conference at their new location in Columbia, Tenn. on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Much of this success has been attributed to U.S. government support via initiatives like the CHIPS Act and Inflation Reduction Act, both of which have boosted demand for the advanced materials Mersen supplies. "Mersen's strong financial performance and expansion in high-growth sectors like semiconductors and renewable energy make this moment particularly significant," said Orvin Caraballo, an IUE-CWA organizer who helped the Mersen workers organize. "As more workers in these industries organize, we are building greater density, which will translate into more worker power and better conditions across the sector." J ay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com . This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Mersen Columbia, Tenn. joins CWA union due to wages, safety concerns