Striking worker longs for trust, renewed talks at Brand-Rex: [A Edition]

Abstract

Jody Walsh is convinced the one-week-old strike at Brand-Rex could be settled quickly if the two sides would sit down and talk -- really talk -- about the issues dividing them.

Walsh said that atmosphere evaporated a little more than three years ago, when Brand-Rex was sold to its current owners, BICC Cables Corp.

Despite rumors in town, [Richard Lusk] said the company has no plans to leave Willimantic. It has highly skilled workers in Connecticut doing intricate tasks. Lusk and [Ronald Filius] said Brand-Rex is looking beyond the union contract for other ways to cut costs.