CONTACT: Wayne Ranick (412) 562-2444, wranick@usw.org
NLRB Calls Lockout of USW Members at Europtec in Clarksburg Illegal
(Clarksburg, W.Va.) The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Region 6, today informed the United Steelworkers (USW) and Europtec that it has decided to issue a complaint alleging that the company unlawfully locked out its employees on July 11, 2016.
The 28 members of USW Local 567, employed at the company’s glass processing facility in Clarksburg, W. Va., are now owed back-pay from July 11 forward until Europtec returns them to work.
“The company simply needs to stop its illegal activities and bargain in good faith,” said USW Director 8 Director Billy Thompson. “We hope that this decision will bring Europtec to the table with the intent to reach a fair agreement.”
The previous contract expired in October 2015, but USW-represented hourly production and maintenance personnel continued working under its terms and conditions while talks for a new agreement proceeded.
In February, Europtec illegally implemented the company’s “last, best and final” contract proposal in the absence of a legal bargaining impasse.
The NLRB ruling took into consideration that the company never told the employees why they were locking them out, much less what they would need to do to end the lockout. In addition, Europtec had yet to fully remedy its prior unfair labor practices, including its unlawful implementation of its “last, best and final” offer short of impasse.
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.
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