After a yearlong strike, the Omnova Solutions labor dispute is headed to a hearing before the National Labor Relations Board.
Representatives from Omnova, the United Steelworkers Local 748-L and replacement workers will be present at the meeting to discuss the ongoing dispute and taking a decertification vote.
A group of replacement workers petitioned the NLRB for a vote to decertify the union. The company is supporting the election, but the union is fighting the move.
The hearing could delay the vote, but it likely won”t stop it, a NLRB representative said. When the election takes place, current Omnova workers will vote whether they want to be represented by a union or not. They need a 50-percent, plus-one vote to make the plant non-union.
But whatever the outcome of the vote, local union president Jay Lawrence said the picketing will go on.
“The local across the street, we”ll still be on strike,” he said. “We”ll be walking the picket line.”
Union members have manned the union hall, across Yorkville Road from the Omnova plant, and also manned the gates since the strike began on May 21, 2010. The union previously had manned the gates 24 hours a day; activity has since tapered off.
Lawrence estimates 10-15 of the plants 168 workers who voted to strike (two voted against), about 10-15 have since officially retired. Though another 60-70 are eligible for retirement, they continue to hold out.
The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors boardroom at the Lowndes County Courthouse. The hearing is open to the public.
“From the company”s perspective, there are no issues and the matter should be scheduled for election as soon as possible,” said Sandi Noah, director of communications for Omnova. “We understand that the union plans to bring up a number of issues that have not been specified at this time.”
Omnova has hired more than 100 replacement workers. Prior to the strike, the company employed 174 hourly wage workers. Another 95 workers are salaried employees, including management, marketing and other positions.
Omnova”s Columbus plant is the primary plant for commercial wall coverings. Omnova produces wall coverings, functional coated fabrics and performance chemicals.
According to the company”s website, Omnova employs about 2,300 people in America, Europe and Asia.
Locally, Omnova estimates it has a $23 million annual impact on the economy in taxes, wages, salaries and payments to local vendors.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
