Unfair labor practice charges piling up against Instafab

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VANCOUVER, Wash.—Unfair labor practice charges are piling up against Instafab, a steel fabrication and erection company based in Vancouver, Wash.

A group of construction ironworkers launched an unfair labor practice strike Feb. 27 and sought union representation from Iron Workers Local 29 after their employer refused to listen to their list of grievances regarding working conditions.  All of them were fired. (See “Crew of nonunion ironworkers goes on unfair labor practice strike at Instafab“)

On May 18, four workers from the fabrication shop presented their boss with a list of demands similar to those of the field workers. When they too were ignored, they went on strike and are seeking representation from Iron Workers Shopmen’s Local 516.

Another field ironworker joined the picket line May 18, bringing the number of Instafab’s employees on strike to 14—including a job superintendent and a foreman.

Locals 29 and 516 have joined with several community and religious organizations, including Portland Jobs with Justice, to form the Instafab Workers Coalition for Justice.

The coalition has filed numerous new unfair labor practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The most recent filing was June 8. The coalition alleges the company fired employees for engaging in protected union activity; threatened to fire employees if they talk to striking ironworkers or any Local 29 union reps; threatened to fire or discipline an employee if he didn’t remove a pro-union decal from his personal automobile; interrogated a new hire about his sympathies toward the union; granted pay raises to discourage employees from engaging in union activity; and told a new hire the company would close before it ever signed a collective bargaining agreement with the Iron Workers Union.

The charges are currently under investigation by the NLRB.

“The employer is retaliating against these workers for engaging in protected, concerted activity; it’s as simple as that,” said  coalition spokesperson Diana Pei Wu, who is executive director of Portland Jobs with Justice,  a coalition of more than 90 labor organizations and community groups dedicated to protecting the rights of working people and supporting community struggles.

The coalition is planning several actions in the coming weeks and months, Pei Wu said.

Robert Camarillo, a business agent for Iron Workers Local 29, said Instafab also is under investigation by the Washington Department of Safety and Health over striking worker complaints about safety training certification.

Instafab is a primary subcontractor for Anderson Construction and Skanska USA Building. Coalition members have picketed and leafletted several projects, including Block 67—the Burnside Bridgehead apartment project in Portland; an apartment project in the Pearl District’s Block 17; at The Landing Drive Project in Southwest Portland; and at the Pringle Square project in Salem.

Several organizations with the Instafab Workers Coalition for Justice have sent letters to the general contractors asking them to look into the labor practices of Instafab, and to cut ties with the company until the labor dispute is resolved.

Striking ironworkers William Russell and Laramie Lexow say they feel bolstered by the strong showing of support from labor, community and religious organizations.

“It is incredibly powerful to see so many people coming together to help us get a union so that we can have a voice at work,” said Russell.

“We’re really gaining momentum,” Lexow added.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Ms. Pei Wu-

    How, in your mind, do “charges filed” become “guilty as charged”?

    Do you believe in due process?

    Four of the charges put in front of the NLRB by the strikers have dismissed so far. None of the charges have yet been substantiated. The owner and management at Instafab say that they are looking forward to seeing more of the charges dismissed in the near future.

    Do you want to see the folks at Instafab get a chance at a fair hearing, or is that even the point?

    Is it justice for all, or just justice for some?

    Thank you.

  2. I worked there for 4 months and was supportive of the management. However, they apparently didn’t care about anyone’s loyalty to them or the company!Seems like they want anyone that has had any ties to the Local 29 or 516 gone!Actually liked the job and the company until they started to look at all of us like we were going to go on strike! They even laid me off due to lack of work, but conveniently brought me back on the day they decided to U.A. the entire company! Also found out when I was laid off that the company hadn’t paid anything into Washington State Unemployment for anyone, let alone myself, nor did they pay into my Kaiser Insurance what they deducted from my pay! Honestly think they should be investigated for their unfair practices and possibly fraud!

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