USW Meets with Husky Energy First Time Since Unfair Labor Practice Strike Began

Contact: Lynne Hancock (615) 828-6169, lhancock@usw.org

Lima, Ohio—At the request of the United Steelworkers Union (USW) and its Local 624, Husky Energy met with the union yesterday for the first time since the unfair labor practice strike began 14 days ago on May 25. Both sides met without a federal mediator involved.

The company wanted to know what was wrong with their last proposal and the union discussed its areas of concern. The union offered some proposals to the company to reach an agreement and end the unfair labor practice strike. The company did not make any proposals and there is no company proposal currently on the bargaining table.

Husky negotiators told the union that it would take them time to review the proposals and they would contact the union when they are ready to meet.

“We expect to hear back from Husky in a few days,” said Local 624 President Mike Edelbrock. “Hopefully we can make progress on the open issues. We believe there is room to negotiate a contract that is fair to the workers and the company.”

USW and its Local 624 represent over 235 workers at the Husky Lima, Ohio facility. The union has filed numerous charges with the National Labor Relations Board regarding the company’s alleged unfair labor practices associated with the current negotiations.

The USW is the largest industrial union in North America and has 850,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. It represents workers employed in metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining, renewable and atomic energy, plus the service and government sectors.

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