USW Local 235A has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in response to Sherwin’s three-month lockout of our hard-working members.
“This company has repeatedly and unlawfully intimidated, threatened and discriminated against its own workers, all in an effort to divide the union,” USW District 13 Director Ruben Garza said. “This lockout is nothing more than the act of a greedy company seeking to increase an already healthy bottom line, and that kind of irresponsible behavior must have consequences.”
Sherwin locked its doors on Local 235A on October 11 after a contract offer that demanded substantial pay and benefit cuts. Glencore, Sherwin’s corporate owner, is the world’s 10th largest company with a net income of $4.6 billion in 2013.
In addition to accusing Sherwin of an unlawful lockout of USW Local 235A members, the union also alleges Sherwin has violated the National Labor Relations Act by failing to bargain in good faith, interfering in union activity, threatening and interrogating workers, removing union communications, engaging in unlawful surveillance, and failing to provide information to the union in a timely manner.
“This is a hugely profitable company, in an industry that has a positive outlook for the future. We have repeatedly offered to stay on the job while negotiations continue, but the company has continued this irresponsible lockout,” Garza said. “There is simply no excuse for these actions, other than corporate greed.”