One Day Longer - Paperback

After years of losing money in a plant near Ravenswood, WV, the owner of a very larger aluminum company decided to sell the plant to a leveraged buyout group led by a former plant manager. The new owner had to reduce costs to make the company profitable. His only option was to get concessions from the union. He offered wage increases, a signing bonus, and a profit sharing bonus. But he had to have job combining to make the plant more efficient. The strong militant union leaders rejected the contract offering. The new owner hired replacement workers and 1750 families were out of work. What transpired was horrible for both sides of the conflict as a literal war was on. Acts of arson, assaults, property damage, and violence of all types were perpetrated on the "scabs" and management employees who continued to operate the plant. The union vowed to fight "One Day Longer". The conflict lasted 20 months. The story follows one of management's frontline foremen, John Mays, as he and his son, Mike, navigate the mayhem. Mike and his girlfriend, Katy, accidentally enter the State Police accompanied- caravan of scabs on their way to work. Mike does not hear the glass break or feel the bullet as it enters his brain.