niles Phillips continues to hire workers during USW strike

Phillips Manufacturing advertises for more replacement workers

While attorneys continue to argue the Niles law that prevents companies from hiring strikebreakers, Phillips Manufacturing continues to advertise for more “replacements” for 44 workers who went on strike in September.

Staff report

NILES

While attorneys continue to argue for and against the Niles law that prevents companies from hiring strikebreakers, Phillips Manufacturing continues to advertise for more “replacements” for the 44 workers who went on strike in September.

The advertisement says the company seeks workers “to fill immediate vacancies due to a [United Steelworkers union] strike at our Niles plant.”

Niles Prosecutor Terry Swauger filed a criminal complaint last year in Niles Municipal Court, accusing the company of violating the city’s strikebreaker ordinance.

But Atty. Patrick Wilson, who represents Phillips Manufacturing, has argued that the ordinance is unconstitutional.

Wilson has filed a motion in the case asking Judge Thomas Townley to dismiss the charge, and Swauger filed an answer to the motion last week, but Judge Townley has not acted yet on the motion, Swauger said Tuesday.

If Judge Townley denies the company’s motion, the matter could go to trial or result in a plea agreement quickly, Swauger said, but he doesn’t know when the judge will act on the motion. A trial on the matter could be completed in just a few hours, Swauger said.

If convicted on the charge, someone from the company could spend up to six months in jail.

Additional evidence that the company is hiring strike breakers wouldn’t have any bearing on the case at this time, Swauger added.

As for the case, Swauger said he still believes the city has “a valid reason to have these laws” but added he won’t try to predict whether the case will produce a conviction.

Tony Beltz, vice president of United Steelworkers Local 4564, said in November he thought the company had hired about 20 replacements as of that point.

Forty-four workers walked off the job at the Walnut Street plant Sept. 13 after contract negotiations broke down.