Locking Out Trained Chemical Handlers Poses
Major Safety Risk to Community
RICHMOND, Calif., May 24, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 315 members, allies, and political
leaders rallied today outside of Brenntag Pacific chemical plant,
denouncing Brenntag's disregard for worker safety as the lockout of
Teamsters continues into a fourth day.
Brenntag, one of the largest chemical distributors in the world
with profits of more than $4.3
billion in 2023, began their lockout of 18 Teamsters drivers
and warehouse workers on Tuesday morning, in clear violation of
their contractual agreement with workers. The 18 workers
represented by Local 315 have been in negotiations with Brenntag
for months since the expiration of their previous agreement on
January 31.
"As drivers, we're often dealing with dangerous chemicals like
sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide. We deliver to places with
multiple chemical tanks, like high schools, where an inexperienced
driver can make a mistake with a tank and expose students to
chemical gases, which has happened before," said Rene MartÃnez, a
driver with Brenntag Pacific. "That's why we have three full months
of training before we make a delivery without a senior driver,
which these new drivers don't have. They're not familiar with our
equipment or our delivery spots, and that's dangerous for them and
our customers."
The ongoing lockout of trained and qualified Teamsters is a
clear threat to the safety of plant operations and the workers who
remain on-site. Teamsters drivers and warehouse workers undergo
months of training in safe handling of dangerous chemicals, but
Brenntag has made no guarantees that nonunion replacement workers
will be similarly trained.
Brenntag locked Teamsters out following a unanimous vote by
workers to reject the company's most recent contract proposal. The
proposal, which included no retroactive pay for the period since
January 31 and a freeze to pension
contributions, also included health care premiums nearly triple the
amount that workers currently pay. At a worksite where injuries,
including chemical burns, are frequent and consequences can be
long-lasting, Teamsters firmly rejected Brenntag's plan to offload
spiking health care costs onto workers.
"Every year, every round of negotiations, Brenntag tries to take
more away. I've been here 20 years, many of my co-workers have been
here for 12 years, even 18 years, and we don't have much else to
give up," said Miguel Delgado, a
Brenntag warehouse worker and 20-year Local 315 member. "We like
our jobs, we want to retire from our jobs, but how are we supposed
to save to retire when our medical costs are so high? It's unfair
and it's keeping us from getting back to work."
Instead of developing a new proposal or moving to declare an
impasse, Brenntag violated the no-lockout clause of the agreed-upon
contract extension and endangered dozens of plant employees.
"Brenntag needs to end the lockout, let our members get back to
work, and return to the negotiating table in good faith," said
Don E. Garcia, Secretary-Treasurer
of Local 315. "These are workers who have put in years of service
at Brenntag Pacific, who know the plant inside and out, and who
know how to keep the community and their co-workers safe. This
lockout has to end now."
Chartered in 1936, Teamsters Local 315 represents more than
4,600 workers throughout Contra, Costa, Napa, and Solano counties in California. For more information, visit
teamsters315.com
###
Contact:
Catie Arbona, (510) 460-5130
carbona@teamsters2010.org
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SOURCE Teamsters Local 315