Axehole

Conn-Selmer, a subsidiary of Steinway Musical Instruments, is putting the thumbscrews on its union employees.

The company announced today that it has begun hiring replacement workers for its Elkhart brass instrument facility, known as the Vincent Bach plant. 230 employees at Bach are represented by Local 364 of the United Auto Workers (UAW) and have been on strike since their contract expired on April 1st.

“We are disappointed that the union membership voted down our latest proposal,” commented John Stoner, President of Conn-Selmer. “While we await a counterproposal from the union’s bargaining committee and consider the uncertainty of future events related to the work stoppage, we must find ways to continue to service our customers. In addition to hiring replacement workers, we have ramped up production at our Eastlake facility to produce additional professional Conn and King trumpets and trombones. Our offshore suppliers are also ramping up their production to meet our future requirements of Bach student trumpets and trombones.”

Dana Messina, CEO of Steinway Musical Instruments, noted, “While this labor issue has temporarily slowed us down, we continue to see overall strength in the band instrument marketplace. As we move ahead, management will continue to focus on profitable growth for the Company.”

Steinway Musical Instruments makes Bach Stradivarius trumpets, Selmer Paris saxophones, C.G. Conn French horns, Leblanc clarinets, King trombones, Ludwig snare drums and Steinway & Sons pianos.