Labor dispute jeopardizes Columbus firetruck purchase
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A $2.5 million agreement between the city of Columbus and a Dublin-based firetruck manufacturer could be in jeopardy.
Union members at the company, Sutphen, went to a picket line at midnight Wednesday to protest what they said are unfair labor practices. On May 19, Columbus City Council approved the funding for a new fire truck from Sutphen.
The previous week, the Teamsters Local 284 union had asked council not to pass the funding until a months-long labor dispute between Sutphen and the union was resolved. Council was told negotiations were scheduled and approved the funding.
The next step would be for the city to negotiate the agreement with Sutphen. At the meeting, they said there would be multiple built-in safeguards allowing the city to back out of the agreement if the company did not conduct fair negotiations with the union workers.
The union stated that it has not received a contractual raise since 2023. Now, union members are picketing, saying they have been working without a contract for months and want the company to come to the table to negotiate pay and benefits.
There are 90 Teamster Local 284 members at Sutphen, and a representative said this makes up the production workforce.
"We've been working for eight months without a contract, trying to fulfill what we're doing, producing trucks for them and still no talks with them. So that's why we're here," Teamsters Local 284 member Jerry Becker said. 'We're here to build fire trucks and we would like to get back to it."
This comes as the local firefighters' union has raised the alarm about a critical fire vehicle shortage that they say could affect community safety.
In a statement, Sutphen representatives said it was working with union representation to reach a deal.
“Sutphen has and will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement for all stakeholders,” the statement reads. “With multiple meeting dates set on the calendar for the near future, we look forward to continuing bargaining efforts.”
Columbus City Councilmember Emmanuel Remy said the agreement signed by the city allows for it to back out should labor disputes cause issues with the city receiving the fire engine. His statement reads:
“Council is united in support of fair labor practices and in standing up for the rights of working people. That includes respecting workers' voices on the factory floor and delivering quality, dependable equipment for our first responders.
“The legislation we passed, reflects our values and accountability: it requires a liquidated damages clause and allows for contract cancellation if the company fails to deliver on time—especially if delays stem from labor disruptions or quality concerns tied to replacement workers.”