USW Decries Siemens' Announced Intention to Close Trenton Plant

PITTSBURGH, March 7, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today expressed disappointment and outrage after Siemens DeMag Delaval Turbomachinery informed the union of its intent to close the company's plant in Hamilton, N.J., near Trenton.

Up to 86 members of USW Local 3355 could lose their jobs if the company follows through on its plan to curtail operations at Trenton over the course of the next 12 to 18 months and transfer the work to other locations.

USW District 4 Director John Shinn denounced management's decision to shutter the Trenton facility, which services and repairs steam and gas turbines as well as pumps used in the oil and gas industry.

"Only a corporation worth billions of dollars would consider shutting down a historically profitable and productive operation a plan for success," Shinn said. "Our members, their families and community deserve better, and we will not allow Siemens to take these jobs elsewhere without a fight."

Siemens has indicated that the company may offer positions at other facilities to some New Jersey employees but did not specify how many or if those opportunities would be available for union workers, salaried personnel or both.

Shinn said that the USW will encourage Siemens to consider alternatives to closing the Trenton facility, and if unsuccessful, the union will request to negotiate over the effects of the company's decision, which would include bargaining over issues such as severance and retirement benefits, health insurance and supplemental unemployment for laid-off workers and funding for retraining or higher education.

"Hundreds of men and women dedicated their lives and careers to this facility for 100 years," said Local 3355 President Pete Gribbin. "Shuttering this profitable facility now dishonors the memory of previous generations."

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information, visit http://www.usw.org.

More information, contact: Tony Montana – (412) 562-2592 or [email protected]

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

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