USW Urges True Value to Rescind Supplier of the Year Award from North American Salt

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard sent a letter yesterday to the True Value Company requesting that it rescind the 2012 Supplier of the Year award in the lawn and garden product category from North American Salt. The union also is requesting that True Value urge North American Salt to change course by complying with its corporate parent, Compass Minerals', code of conduct.

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"We believe that North American Salt has at numerous times recently behaved in a way that is unjust, immoral and illegal," Gerard wrote.

He also wrote: "In light of North American Salt's recent violations of labor law, jeopardizing of the health and safety of its employees, and flagrant abuse of a highly decorated veteran, we believe it is clear that it is not appropriate for this company to be honored with the True Value Supplier of the Year Award. In fact, we believe True Value honoring the company in this way is 'salt in the wounds' of North American Salt's employees, their families, and of veterans of our Armed Forces, who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity."

To see Gerard's letter, click HERE.

USW represents about 100 workers at North American Salt's Cote Blanche, La., underground salt mine and about a dozen workers at the company's Duluth, Minn., packaging plant.

USW Local 14425 has been trying to negotiate a fair labor agreement for the Cote Blanche workers since 2010, but has been thwarted by the company's unfair labor practices. An administrative law judge for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) determined the company committed numerous unfair labor practices by declaring impasse, refusing to bargain in good faith and unilaterally changing working terms and conditions beginning on March 31, 2010.  A second administrative law judge for the NLRB decided the company behaved illegally in dealing with USW-represented employees at the salt mine.

Safety conditions at the Cote Blanche mine prompted Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspectors to shut it down temporarily during the first part of August. They issued at least 21 citations to North American Salt for its health and safety conditions at the mine.

The company has a history of violations. From January 2009 through August 8, 2012 MSHA cited North American Salt with more than 400 health and safety violations at the Cote Blanche mine, with 126 of these violations determined to be "significant and substantial."

USW contends North American Salt fired a highly decorated veteran who worked at the Cote Blanche mine because of his attendance at his scheduled Veterans Administration appointments.

The union also believes that North American Salt is not complying with Compass Minerals' Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which includes a "commitment to do what is right, obey all laws, behave with integrity and honesty, treat people fairly…and always behave in a way that is above reproach."

The USW is the largest industrial union in North America and has 850,000 members in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean. It represents workers employed in the metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, energy, government and service sectors.    

Contact: Lynne Hancock, USW, 615-828-6169, [email protected]
Adam Lee, USW, 412-243-4236, [email protected]

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)