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Falcon Foundry on strike
By Kalea Hall
LOWELLVILLE
Phil Rotunno has worked at Falcon Foundry Co. for 22 years, and in that time he said the company has had a “pretty good rapport” with the workers, but on Thursday the workers decided to strike.
“I cannot afford to be off, but sometimes you have to take a stand,” he said.
United Steelworkers Local 5025 President Mark Leonard said about 100 part- and full-time employees at the bronze- and copper-casting company went on strike Thursday over issues that included wages and employee benefit costs.
“Honestly, we don’t like it [the strike] any more than the company does,” Leonard said. “I hope we can settle it tomorrow.”
Many of the workers came to work there through relatives. Falcon Foundry was incorporated in 1953 after the former Falcon Bronze Co. in Youngstown dissolved and a group of managers started the current company on Sixth Street in Lowellville, according to the company’s website.
“It’s been a festering situation down there for awhile,” said Joe Holcomb, international staff representative for the USW who is representing the Local 5025 workers. A major issue is with 22 part-time employees who work full-time hours but do not get paid like other full-timers and do not receive benefits, Holcomb said.
The workers would like to be considered full time.
The workers voted down the company’s contract and set up picket lines late Wednesday.
“Most of the guys at the plant, they feel they should have a bigger pay raise,” Holcomb said.
The company’s contract with the employees expired Sept. 30.
“The company believes we have put forth a generous offer,” Falcon Foundry Vice President Skip Slaven said in a statement. “We are extremely disappointed in the vote to strike. The company takes pride in the treatment of our employees, and we are hopeful that the issue can be resolved. Falcon Foundry has not locked out the employees and will do our best to maintain operations during this time.”
A mediator will come in today for negotiations, Holcomb said.
Lowellville Mayor James Iudiciani said things seemed to be “peaceful” during the strike Thursday. He said his only concern with the strike was that he hoped it didn’t interrupt day-to-day business in the area.
The village police officers met Wednesday afternoon after hearing news of the Falcon Foundry strike to make sure there would be extra security Thursday. Lowellville Police Chief Ryan Bonacci said he had one officer patrol close to the Falcon Foundry facility and another drive by the strikers Thursday.
“We didn’t anticipate problems,” Bonacci said. “But we had to make sure that everyone was safe and doing what they were supposed to be doing with the strike.”
Bonacci added that he knows many of the Falcon Foundry workers who are from around town, so he said he hopes they can come to a mutual agreement quickly.
Contributor: Staff writer Megan Wilkinson