NOTICE TO MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS
LABOR DISPUTE BETWEEN IUOE LOCAL 150, AFL-CIO, AND CRANEMASTERS, INC.
Please be advised that the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 150, AFL-CIO (“Local 150”), is engaged in a primary labor dispute against Cranemasters, Inc., for unfair labor practices. Cranemasters is an emergency rerail, track, and car repair service that performs work in Local 150’s jurisdiction. Since a group of Cranemasters’ employees voted to be represented by Local 150 on August 16, 2023, there have been federal investigations against Cranemasters for:
- September 7, 2023—refusal to furnish information, unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment and making coercive statements (Case No. 13-CA-325376);
- September 20, 2023—refusal to bargain/bad-faith bargaining (13-CA-326138);
- October 12, 2024—refusal to furnish information, bad-faith bargaining, discharge for engaging in union activity, unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, and making coercive statements (13-CA-327792);
- January 29, 2024—discharge employee for engaging in union activity (13-CA-334533);
- February 26, 2024—relocation of work away from bargaining unit (13-CA-336523);
- June 21, 2024—retaliation for engaging in union activity (13-CA-344933);
- July 10, 2024—calling employee a “bitch” and “snitch” for engaging in protected activity (13- CA- 345999);
- July 10, 2024— discharge of employee for engaging in union activity (13-CA- 346002);
- July 10, 2024—refusal to provide information to support claim that it could not “afford” to agree to a proposal made by the Union in contract negotiations (13-CA- 346000);
- July 10, 2024—refusal to bargain over installation of surveillance cameras (13-CA- 346001);
- July 12, 2024—refusal to bargain over “restructuring” that resulted in reduction of bargaining unit (13-CA-346106);
- August 2, 2024—refusal to schedule dates and times for bargaining (13-CA-347547).
For more information, please see https://www.nlrb.gov/search/case/cranemasters or scan the code at the bottom of the page.
As part of Local 150’s primary dispute with Cranemasters, it may engage in various forms of protected activity, including picketing against Cranemasters to protest unfair labor practices.
As part of any primary picketing against Cranemasters, Local 150 may follow Cranemasters to various jobsites and establish a primary picketing against Cranemasters when and for as long as Cranemasters remains present at the jobsite. If a Local 150 picket against Cranemasters happens to occur at your facility or jobsite, please be advised that Local 150 has no dispute with your company. Rather, Local 150’s dispute is solely with Cranemasters, and any picketing would be directed solely against Cranemasters. Moreover, any picketing by Local 150 against Cranemasters will conform to the standards contained in Sailors Union of the Pacific (Moore Dry Dock), 92 NLRB 547, 549 (1950), and will otherwise be in uniformity with National Labor Relations Board law.
Under federal law, employees may voluntarily honor Local 150’s ambulatory picket and engage in protected sympathy activity, which would include the refusal to work behind the primary picket line against Cranemasters. As an employer, you also have the right to refuse to do business with Cranemasters. Accordingly, Local 150 requests your company voluntarily choose to cease doing business with Cranemasters or any other employer related to Cranemasters.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and support.
Click here for the pdf version of this notice.