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Chad Hobbs

Monument Chemical Plant unions endure heatwave to strike, accusing company of unfair hiring practices that put whole community at risk

The SEIU Local 32 BJ union at Monument Chemical went on strike last Thursday, becoming the third and final union at the plant to join a strike started in early July by two other maintenance unions there, the IBEW and UA. The SEIU echoes the other two unions' sentiments about unfair hiring practices that put, not just the workers, but the whole community at risk, along with other grievances such as health insurance issues which were sticking points with the earlier two unions that went on strike.


This week, we interviewed one of those workers (in the video below), who shared these issues. The plant had a deadly explosion before in 1962 (see video below), but employees say that it now has a much higher volume of volatile chemicals that could endanger the whole county and beyond, in a way never seen before, if not handled properly by highly trained workers.






The SEIU released the following statement about the situation:


120 workers, who are members of 32BJ SEIU, are protesting alleged unfair labor practices during contract negotiations, including failing to bargain in good faith by bypassing the union and directly negotiating with workers, as well as threatening members that they’ll be kept out of work if they vote to strike. Workers are also protesting proposed drastic cuts to wages for new employees and warn that management’s scheme to eliminate Shippers, who are specially trained to handle explosive chemicals—such as carbide and ethylene oxide—and potentially replace them with inexperienced workers could be dangerous to the public.

 

“Our jobs are critical to the safe operation of this chemical plant,” said Rafael Diaz, a Monument Chemical shipper whose job would be impacted by the company’s proposal. “The company wants less experienced people to handle very toxic, flammable, and dangerous materials. What scares me about that is that this place is, basically, a bomb. The safety of the plant and the community needs to be number one. Almost all of Brandenburg would be gone if there was an explosion. It could change the way the whole Ohio River flows. This is serious. We don’t want to go on strike, but we need a fair contract that ensures our safety, respects our expertise, and gets us back home to our families after every shift."

 

The striking workers are vital to the safe and efficient operation of the plant and include Plant Operators, Polychem Specialists, Shippers, Lab Technicians, Wastewater Treatment workers, and others. They handle dangerous chemicals, maintain the boiler system, and manage wastewater, among other duties, ensuring compliance with environmental and safety standards.

 

The facility was the scene of a tragic chemical accident in 1962, under a previous owner, that killed one worker. The incident underscores the importance of having experienced, well-trained workers who understand the complexities and dangers of handling hazardous materials.

 

"Monument Chemical’s alleged unfair labor practices and refusal to negotiate a fair contract that recognizes the critical and dangerous work our members do is unacceptable," said Robert Smith, Kentucky State Director of 32BJ SEIU. "These workers deserve respect and fair treatment, not the undermining of their union or the threat of being replaced by less qualified staff. The safety of our workers and the community is on the line."

 

Monument Chemical is a large manufacturer of oxides, solvents, fuels, and other industrial materials, with six facilities in the US and Europe. They are jointly owned by the Grube family and Heritage Group, a venture capital, research and development firm that owns over 50 companies. Last year alone, Monument had over $350 million pledged to it in growth capital.  

 

This is the second group of unionized workers to strike Monument in the past two months. In July, workers represented by UA Local 502 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Service Technicians, along with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 369, went on strike after failing to reach an agreement. The 32BJ SEIU members were the last remaining unionized staff still working at the plant.  

 

The strike will continue until Monument Chemical remedies the alleged unfair labor practices and agrees to negotiate a contract that ensures fair wages, job security, and safe working conditions for all its employees.

 


A 1.2 million gallon propylene oxide storage facility in the background is one of the largest in the state and could cause an explosion, if not handled properly, that could make the magnitude of the 1962 explosion at the plant mute in comparison.

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