Latest news with #Sutphen
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus Council poised to reject fire truck contract amid Dublin company's worker strike
The Columbus City Council is poised to reject a contract it approved in May with Dublin-based fire-truck manufacturer Sutphen Corp. after the company's workers' union went on strike. The council will consider rescinding its May approval of a contract with Sutphen for a ladder truck at its July 21 meeting. The new ordinance states that the city was never able to agree on a contract with Sutphen that included the conditions the council wanted. The council sought a contract that allowed the city to cancel if a strike delayed delivery of the truck or if the company used non-union, or "scab," workers. Also tonight, the council will consider a contract with Atlantic Emergency Solutions to buy a ladder truck made by Pierce Manufacturing. Columbus would spend a bit more on the new contract: $2,589,077 versus $2,515,613. The difference includes $33,000 to deliver the truck. In the background of this dispute over a single truck, the Columbus Local 67 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters has raised concerns that the city needs to replace aging fire trucks. Steven Stein, president of the union, went to the media in April and accused the city of inadequately funding fire trucks for years. The union asked the city to develop an aggressive plan to buy more trucks. Another union, Teamsters Local 284, represents about 85 workers at Sutphen Corp.'s Dublin facility who have gone without a contract since October. The workers went on strike in late May, less than a month after Teamsters Local 284 President Mark Vandak warned the Columbus City Council that labor negotiations were going poorly and a strike was possible. The council, which is made up of nine Democrats, is heavily pro-union and members have attempted to pressure Sutphen to negotiate in good faith with the Teamsters. A spokesperson for the Sutphen Corp. did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Teamsters say Sutphen is punishing them for going to Columbus City Council Vandak told The Dispatch that Sutphen returned to the bargaining table in June with a worse offer than the company presented in October. "When the union asked Sutphen why it withdrew the proposal, company negotiators said it was because the union addressed Columbus City Council about the labor dispute and that cost them business," Vandak said in an emailed statement. "The First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the National Labor Relations Act protect the rights of our members to address our elected officials. Sutphen's conduct is outrageous." Vandak said Local 284 has filed additional unfair labor practice charges against Sutphen, which the National Labor Relations Board is currently investigating. Vandak says the strike in Dublin continues and the unfair labor practice picket line has expanded to Sutphen's Hilliard and Urbana locations. A timeline of the dispute over a fire truck contract The meeting this week is the third time this year that the Columbus City Council has considered this fire truck contract. On May 12, the council considered this contract with Sutphen for the first time. Vandak came to the meeting and asked the council to vote against the contract. He warned that a possible strike could delay delivery of a truck. The council voted 5-4 against the contract. A week later, on May 19, the council unanimously approved a contract as long as city staff was able to negotiate conditions the council was seeking, including provisions allowing them to cancel. City staff was never able to reach an agreement with Sutphen on a contract. On May 28, workers at Sutphen's Dublin facility announced that they were striking. In June, Vandak said that Sutphen continued to delay negotiating and has brought in non-union workers, or "scabs," from its Urbana facility. He said the company has come back to the negotiation table now, but continues to bargain in bad faith. This story will be updated based on Monday evening's Columbus City Council meeting. Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus considers new fire truck vendor due to strike at Sutphen Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SUTPHEN TEAMSTERS EXTEND UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE STRIKE TO URBANA
Taxpayer-Funded Employer Refuses to Bargain, Brings in Scabs URBANA, Ohio, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 284 has been forced to expand its picket line against Sutphen Corporation to the company's facility in Urbana, Ohio. The strike action against Sutphen began May 28 at the Dublin, Ohio, facility after the Teamsters filed an unfair labor practice charge (ULP) against the company for failing to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. The nearly 100 Sutphen Teamsters, who assemble vital apparatuses for firefighters across the nation, have been working under an expired contract since October. The company has repeatedly refused to negotiate a new contract and has now brought in nonunion scabs from its Urbana facility to work in Dublin. The Teamsters are fighting this reckless and desperate move by extending the strike to the Sutphen Urbana facility effective immediately. Local 284 will not rest until a contract is produced that includes better pay, health care, and job security. WHO: Sutphen Teamsters, members and leaders from Local 284 WHEN: Daily, 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. WHERE: 935 S Edgewood OH 43078 Media Contact:Colin McCullough, (856) 625-6856cmccullough@ On-site Contact:Derrick Miller, (614) 364-6383 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Teamsters Local 284 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council to fill Arthur seat
May 29—Mayor: Village has received multiple applications for South Point council SOUTH POINT — The South Point Village Council is scheduled to fill an open seat on the body at their next meeting. Mayor Jeff Gaskin said an agreement was made at the council's May meeting to wait until the June meeting to appoint an individual to the seat left vacant by the death of council member Marlene Arthur. Arthur, who had served three decades on council, died April 29 at age 87. Gaskin said the council will appoint a replacement to the seat, but, if that is not done, the duty falls to the mayor. Gaskin said the village has received multiple applications for the seat and he expects the council to name someone to the seat. In other news, Gaskin said representatives of the village made a trip on Friday to pick up the newest truck for the South Point Fire Department and bring it to Lawrence County in time for Monday's Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade. He said the truck is about "95 percent finished" and, after the parade, they will return it for completion. The $987,000 vehicle is a 2025 Sutphen truck and will be paid off over 15 years, Gaskin said. He said the purchase was made after voters approved a fire levy increase in November 2024. Gaskin said the newest truck was set to appear in the parade with the village's oldest truck, a 1928 model, which was returned to South Point a few years ago and restored for use as a show truck. That truck is making its third appearance in the parade this year, he said. Gaskin noted that the antique truck will be 100 years old in three years. The next meeting of South Point Village Council is set for 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 3. You Might Like News Ashland woman killed in UTV accident News A tradition of honor (WITH GALLERY) News Navy Night begins city's Memorial Day weekend News Former local meteorologist arrested
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labor dispute jeopardizes Columbus firetruck purchase
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A $2.5 million agreement between the city of Columbus and a Dublin-based firetruck manufacturer could be in jeopardy. Union members at the company, Sutphen, went to a picket line at midnight Wednesday to protest what they said are unfair labor practices. On May 19, Columbus City Council approved the funding for a new fire truck from Sutphen. First responders line roads as body of killed deputy returned to Morrow County The previous week, the Teamsters Local 284 union had asked council not to pass the funding until a months-long labor dispute between Sutphen and the union was resolved. Council was told negotiations were scheduled and approved the funding. The next step would be for the city to negotiate the agreement with Sutphen. At the meeting, they said there would be multiple built-in safeguards allowing the city to back out of the agreement if the company did not conduct fair negotiations with the union workers. The union stated that it has not received a contractual raise since 2023. Now, union members are picketing, saying they have been working without a contract for months and want the company to come to the table to negotiate pay and benefits. There are 90 Teamster Local 284 members at Sutphen, and a representative said this makes up the production workforce. Why the Short North may soon charge extra for dining, shopping 'We've been working for eight months without a contract, trying to fulfill what we're doing, producing trucks for them and still no talks with them. So that's why we're here,' Teamsters Local 284 member Jerry Becker said. 'We're here to build fire trucks and we would like to get back to it.' This comes as the local firefighters' union has raised the alarm about a critical fire vehicle shortage that they say could affect community safety. In a statement, Sutphen representatives said it was working with union representation to reach a deal. 'Sutphen has and will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement for all stakeholders,' the statement reads. 'With multiple meeting dates set on the calendar for the near future, we look forward to continuing bargaining efforts.' Victoria's Secret responds after website, app shutdown leaving customers in the dark Columbus City Councilmember Emmanuel Remy said the agreement signed by the city allows for it to back out should labor disputes cause issues with the city receiving the fire engine. His statement reads: 'Council is united in support of fair labor practices and in standing up for the rights of working people. That includes respecting workers' voices on the factory floor and delivering quality, dependable equipment for our first responders. 'The legislation we passed, reflects our values and accountability: it requires a liquidated damages clause and allows for contract cancellation if the company fails to deliver on time—especially if delays stem from labor disruptions or quality concerns tied to replacement workers.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Columbus council approves firetruck purchase with Sutphen a week after rejecting it
A week after a divided Columbus City Council rejected buying an essential firetruck over a dispute between the local supplier and its union, the council approved the purchase on May 19. All eight present members voted to authorize the negotiation of a $2.5 million contract for a ladder truck with The Sutphen Corp., a Dublin-based manufacturer that supplies most of Columbus' firetrucks. Councilmember Lourdes Barroso De Padilla was absent. The passed ordinance includes new provisions allowing the city to cancel or impose fees if Sutphen cannot deliver the truck on time. The legislation also asks city staff to negotiate so that the use of nonunion workers, or scabs, would constitute a breach of contract. Councilmember Emmanuel Remy, Public Safety Committee chair, told The Dispatch that this new ordinance reflects the council's priorities that union workers' rights are respected. "But more importantly, we're trying to protect our investment," Remy said. Last week, five members voted against a similar ordinance at the request of Mark Vandak, president of Teamsters Local 284, which represents Sutphen employees. He told the council that the ongoing labor dispute could lead to a strike and, thus, delays in fulfilling contracts. Already, firetrucks often take over a year to build. Sutphen employees have filed seven unfair labor practice charges against Sutphen since August 2023 and have been working without a contract since October 2024. The company settled with the National Labor Relations Board in April. Shelby Sutphen Chambers, president of The Sutphen Corp., sent all council members a letter on May 15 that addressed some of the concerns they voiced last week. She contradicted Vandak and said negotiations are "ongoing and active." Even council members who voted initially for the contract with Sutphen said they did so to support the Division of Fire and still expressed frustration with Sutphen for poor communication with the Teamsters. Sutphen Chambers wrote in her letter that Sutphen "in addition to previous outreach," reached out to restart bargaining on May 13, the day after the council voted down the contract. She said Sutphen and the Teamsters have agreed on five dates within the next 70 days to hold bargaining discussions. "We want to reiterate that being in business for 135 years means taking the long-term approach. Every decision our Sutphen family makes is to ensure that both our business and our team members have a sustainable future - not just the next 6 to 12 months, but for the next 135 years," she said. Remy said that the next date set for bargaining is June 23 and he understands that the Teamsters are seeking an earlier date, which he supports. In an emailed statement, Sutphen Chambers said: "Having worked with the Columbus Division of Fire for decades, Sutphen looks forward to continuing our long-standing relationship by providing life-saving equipment to our city's first responders.' Vandak told The Dispatch that Local 284 supports the new ordinance. "Local 284 supports the new language in the ordinance for the purchase of a single fire apparatus, language that protects the city and taxpayers from the effects of further misconduct by The Sutphen Corp." However, Vandak said that the letter sent to the city council contains multiple inaccuracies. President Pro Tempore Rob Dorans said during the meeting that he still has serious concerns that Sutphen will negotiate in good faith with the union. Related: Columbus fire truck shortage reaching critical state, local firefighter union says This City Hall fight with Sutphen came about a month after Steven Stein, president of the Columbus Local 67 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters, went to the media to accuse the city of inadequately funding firetrucks for years. "Our needs are clear," he told The Dispatch before the meeting. "I generally expect the Columbus City Council to make sure our firefighters have the tools they need to deliver vital services to the citizens of Columbus, who we're privileged to serve." Remy said before the meeting that the Division of Fire does need more and better fire trucks, and the council is working to ensure firefighters have them. (This story was updated to add a comment from Shelby Sutphen Chambers.) Government and Politics Reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@ Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City Council approves firetruck after Teamsters dispute
