175 workers locked out
PETROLIA — About 175 union workers were locked out of the INDSPEC Chemical facility in Petrolia over the weekend after their three-year contract expired Saturday.
On a rainy Monday afternoon, about a dozen workers stood outside the plant with signs telling passers-by of the recent lockout.
Workers remain outside the plant today.
“On Thursday, the company broke off negotiations of the last, best and final offer,” said Ron Bowser, union president with United Steelworkers 6346-25. “The company informed us that if we didn't reach an agreement at that time, that they would lock us out of the plant.”
He said negotiations were stalled because the company had offered a concessionary package. The union took issue with vacation time, health insurance costs and changes to layoff language.
He said that there were other issues, but declined to go into detail.
“Before the lockout, we offered to work under the existing contract,” said Jim Woodward, a representative with USW District 10, who stood outside the plant with Bowser and other workers Monday.
“This is the first work stoppage this plant has had in almost 40 years,” Bowser added.
He said that negotiations had taken place since early March.
“We're just waiting for the company to restart negotiations,” Bowser said.
In a statement this morning, INDSPEC said it has negotiated in good faith on a new labor contract for employees at its Petrolia plant with the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) Local 6346-25.
Negotiations began in early March 2014 and no agreement was reached before the contract expired Saturday.
As a result, INDSPEC idled its Petrolia plant and has not scheduled its employees to return to work. The duration of the idling is not known at this time, according to the statement.
In the meantime, INDSPEC has indicated its willingness to meet with the union and will continue to try to reach an agreement so that it can resume operations.
The statement said that INDSPEC is faced with aggressive import competition. Numerous changes have been made over the past two years in an attempt to return the business to profitability.
Further changes in various work and pay practices that have been a part of negotiations are critical to further improve our competitiveness and the long-term viability of the business.
According to the company's website, INDSPEC is the sole North American producer of resorcinol, a compound used in making dyes, resins, cosmetics and other products.
The Petrolia facility is capable of making up to 50 million pounds of resorcinol per year.
In March 2009, 250 workers at the plant were idled because a poor economy caused the company to stockpile its products. The workers were called back in August of that year.
