Columbus Council poised to reject fire truck contract amid Dublin company's worker 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@dispatch.com. 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
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