Teamsters Continue Indiana Strike Over Unjust Firings

Members Walk for Weeks in Support of Tool Company Clerical Workers

Teamsters throughout Chicago prepare to enter the fifth week of striking in Gary, Indiana, after a tool repair company unjustly fired its entire clerical staff.

Support for members of Teamsters Local 142 continues outside Industrial Pneumatics, Inc., which terminated two workers and violated its union contract in March. Three of the company’s production workers also represented by the Teamsters have refused to cross the strike line, putting their work on hold for more than a month.

“The company has simply refused to listen to reason,” said Harvey Jackson, Local 142 Recording Secretary. “Management is unwilling to talk or honor the workers’ contract. As a result, the Teamsters will not be going anywhere until justice is served and our members can get back to work.”

Local 142 officially filed unfair labor practice charges last month against Industrial Pneumatics, which repairs and maintains air compression tools, including jackhammers, air guns and vacuum pumps. Clerical employees represented by the Teamsters have worked for the company for nearly five years, while production workers bring more than 30 years of experience to the Indiana outfit.

“Our members have provided committed service to Industrial Pneumatics and in return were fired for absolutely no reason,” Jackson said. “Management, which once claimed there wasn’t enough clerical work to go around, has even started performing the duties they’ve stolen away from our members.

“You can be sure the Teamsters will make it clear that such actions cannot stand.”

Teamsters Local 142 is an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25, which represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and Indiana.

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