Union workers at City Brewing Company in Latrobe began what they’re calling an unfair labor practice strike on Tuesday morning.Watch the report from Latrobe: Click the video player above.The unions have filed a case with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the company is refusing to provide information.Union representatives were unable to comment Tuesday on what information they had been requesting, or the contract negotiations.”This is new, uncharted territory for all of us,” said Bill Palmer, with IUE-CWA Local 22. “We certainly don’t want to be here, but we have to make a stand.”Union workers with IUE-CWA locals 22 and 144 have been working without a contract since earlier this month but said they have been bargaining with the company since October.In a statement on March 3, the workers said they felt the company had been acting against them in several ways, including forcing 12-hour shifts and taking away overtime pay.A spokesperson for the brewery sent the following statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4:”City Brewery has spent over six months working hard to reach an agreement with the IUE-CWA union for our Latrobe brewery and we remain committed to getting a strong contract in place for the benefit of our employees. Our most recent offer included significant wage increases for all covered employees – nearly 23% for new hires – upfront payments on signing, enhanced vacation accruals and competitive benefits. We have been meeting with our employees to ensure they have accurate information and we will continue to negotiate in good faith to resolve any open issues and reach an agreement.”
Union workers at City Brewing Company in Latrobe began what they’re calling an unfair labor practice strike on Tuesday morning.
Watch the report from Latrobe: Click the video player above.
The unions have filed a case with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the company is refusing to provide information.
Union representatives were unable to comment Tuesday on what information they had been requesting, or the contract negotiations.
“This is new, uncharted territory for all of us,” said Bill Palmer, with IUE-CWA Local 22. “We certainly don’t want to be here, but we have to make a stand.”
Union workers with IUE-CWA locals 22 and 144 have been working without a contract since earlier this month but said they have been bargaining with the company since October.
In a statement on March 3, the workers said they felt the company had been acting against them in several ways, including forcing 12-hour shifts and taking away overtime pay.
A spokesperson for the brewery sent the following statement to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4:
“City Brewery has spent over six months working hard to reach an agreement with the IUE-CWA union for our Latrobe brewery and we remain committed to getting a strong contract in place for the benefit of our employees. Our most recent offer included significant wage increases for all covered employees – nearly 23% for new hires – upfront payments on signing, enhanced vacation accruals and competitive benefits. We have been meeting with our employees to ensure they have accurate information and we will continue to negotiate in good faith to resolve any open issues and reach an agreement.”