Latest news with #Sutphen
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
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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
3 days ago
- Business
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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
3 days ago
- Business
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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
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
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Union workers strike at Sutphen, major Columbus-area firetruck supplier
Union workers at the Sutphen Corp., a Dublin-based firetruck manufacturer that supplies most of Columbus' trucks, have gone on strike. The approximately 85 workers at the company represented by the Teamsters have been working without a contract since Oct. 12, 2024 and announced on May 28 that they are striking. Columbus City Council members have been pressuring Sutphen to go back to the table with the Teamsters and negotiate in good faith. A few weeks ago, on May 13, the council considered a ladder truck purchase from Sutphen and Mark Vandak, president of Teamsters Local 284, warned the council that labor negotiations were going poorly. Vandak said then that a strike was possible, which could delay delivery of any truck the city buys. A divided council voted 5-4 not to buy the truck from Sutphen for $2.5 million before coming back a week later on May 19 and unanimously approving the truck purchase with conditions. The ordinance that passed included 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, was not immediately available for comment. Remy previously told The Dispatch that the conditions in the ordinance would protect the city's investment. Melanie Crabill, a spokesperson for Mayor Andrew J. Ginther's office, said the city is currently only under contract for five pumper trucks that were ordered for about $5.5 million in November 2023. The city is still negotiating contract terms for the ladder truck that the council approved. In the background of all this, the Columbus Local 67 chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters has made clear that the city's fleet of firetrucks is aging and buying new equipment should be the city's priority. In a prepared announcement about the strike, Vandak said: "Sutphen Corporation has a legal obligation to negotiate in good faith over a new contract/ When the union demanded that (the) company return to the bargaining table in May, they arrogantly claimed they were too busy and refuse to meet until June 23. The workforce, firefighters and residents deserve better from a company that is supposed to serve our community and relies on taxpayers for its profits.' A spokesperson for Sutphen sent this emailed statement: "Sutphen has and will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement for all stakeholders. With multiple meeting dates set on the calendar for the near future, we look forward to continuing bargaining efforts." According to the Teamsters, Sutphen employees have not received a wage increase since October of 2023 and Sutphen leadership has refused to negotiate. Sutphen employees have filed seven unfair labor practice charges against Sutphen since August 2023. The company settled with the National Labor Relations Board in April. On May 1, as part of the NLRB settlement, Sutphen leadership was required to read a notice to all its employees. That notice consisted of a long list of promises, including "we will not threaten to discipline employees and union stewards because they engage in union activities" and "We will not engage in bad-faith surface bargaining ..." 'My co-workers and I are fed up with Sutphen's refusal to bargain in good faith,' said Local 284 union steward and Sutphen employee Jerry Becker in the Teamsters' release. 'This company has been taking advantage of the workforce and violating the public trust for too long. No one is above the law, especially not a company that rakes in millions of dollars from taxpayers every year.' 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: Union strikes at Sutphen, Columbus-area firetruck supplier in Dublin
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
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SUTPHEN TEAMSTERS STRIKE IN OHIO OVER UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
Taxpayer-Funded, Union-Busting Employer Refuses to Bargain in Good Faith DUBLIN, Ohio, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 284 members at the Sutphen Corporation's Dublin facility were forced to the picket line today, May 28 after their employer refused to bargain in good faith. Local 284 has filed an unfair labor practice charge (ULP) against the employer for failing to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. The 88 Teamsters at the Dublin facility produce and assemble apparatuses that fire fighters across the nation use to save lives. The contract between the company and the Teamsters expired on October 12, 2024, after Sutphen repeatedly refused to meet. Teamsters are demanding a contract that includes better pay, health care, and job security. WHO: Sutphen Teamsters, members and leaders from Local 284 WHEN: On-going around the clock WHERE: 6450 Eiterman RdDublin, OH 43016 Media Contact:Colin McCullough, (856) 625-6856 cmccullough@ On-site Contact: Mark Vandak, (614) 719-9658 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Teamsters Local 284
