CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — United Steel Workers for glass manufacturer Europtec USA, Inc. arrived Monday morning and found their entry barred, a lockout resulting from ongoing contract negotiations.
“This morning the employees reported to work as scheduled, but the company did follow through with the lockout,” said Heather Anderson, a staff representative with the USW’s district office in Mineral Wells.
The union has called the lockout illegal because Europtec USA, Inc. has not remedied unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
“The company’s legal counsel notified me via e-mail on Friday evening of the company’s intent to lockout the bargaining unit employees effective today,” she said. “That was the notification that the union received. The company didn’t notify the employees.”
A complaint has been filed with the National Labor Relations Board regarding what the union is calling “an illegal lockout,” in hopes of coming to a conclusion that eventually leads workers to be compensated for a loss of wages.
“In our view, this is an unlawful, illegal lockout,” Anderson said.
She said the union will continue to seek a deal in good-faith after the previous deal expired last October.
“The union has always been and continues to be willing to negotiate a fair and equitable contract,” Anderson said.
A representative with Europtec USA, Inc. said the company was not prepared to release a comment Monday about the lockout.