Cameron Compression Systems receives the 'Champions' award

Business First of Buffalo - by Thomas Hartley

Cameron Compression Systems, a division of Cameron International Corp., is not a name that readily springs to mind for most Western New Yorkers.

And yet, 800 employees work at the company's Cheektowaga facility, which makes it one of the region's largest manufacturers.

The plant's low-key presence- a situation due in large part to the relative harmony between management and employees - was formally recognized Aug. 24 when the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations honored the plant with its Champions at Work Award.

Sharing the honor was Machinists Union Local 330, which represents hourly workers.

"We wanted to recognize the good labor relationship that exists there, the high quality of the skilled and eduated worforce - on both the salaried and hourly sides - and the plant's contributions to Western New Yokr's economy," said Regina "Reggie" Grogan, industry education specialist for the school.

Receiving the award were Mahesh Jashi, vice president of centrigual compressors, and Edward Fik, Local 330 president.

This is the fourth year the Champions at Work Award has been given.

Past winners were: United Auto Workers Local 897 and the Ford Stamping Plant (2004); Communications Workers of America Loval 14177 and New Era Cap Co. (2005); and United Steelworkers Local 2604 and Mittal Steel USA - Lackawanna, now known as ArcelorMittal-Lackawanna (2007).