MPI says it is continuing work to finalize a contract agreement with representatives of the United Steelworkers.
Unfair Labor Practices Cited Against MPI in Monday Pickets
Employees were in front of MPI on Monday to protest what they believe are unfair labor practices at the company.
Picketers say they got into the picket lines after the company allegedly changed several conditions of their work without first negotiating though did not specify the changes.
Continue reading
MPI Official Discusses Contract Negotiations
Contract talks are continuing between MPI Products and its employees. A petition was filed with the National Labor Relations Board in 2014 allowing the employees to join the United Steelworkers. Contract talks have been taking place since that time. Officials with MPI say they are meeting with union officials as often as possible to help finalize a first contract. Continue reading
MPI Employees Grow Frustrated in Wake of Union Negotiations
MPI Products was recently recognized by Ford Motor Company for supplier quality, but employees at the factory have grown increasingly frustrated with union negotiations currently taking place.
Continue reading
MPI Employees Give to Starke County Food Pantry
Employees of a Knox business exceeded their food pantry donation drive goal for the second straight year. Last year MPI set a goal of collecting 263 items for the Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry, one per employee. They nearly tripled it, with 700 items donated last year.
United Steelworkers to Represent MPI Employees
Employees at MPI in Knox are now represented by the United Steelworkers of America. Michael O’Brien is the District 7 Subdistrict 4 director for the union. He tells WKVI News the National Labor Relations Board ratified the recent vote by MPI employees and notified both the union and the company. Continue reading
MPI Employees Vote No to Union Takeover
MPI Employees to Vote for Union or Monomoy on Friday
Fate of MPI Goes to Employee Vote
Glenda Stacy, spokesperson for a collected group of protesters who gathered outside of USA Cafe in Knox yesterday afternoon, says they are against the idea of the union stepping in. She thinks it would be detrimental to the company and feels Monomoy deserves a chance to prove themselves, and says their owner has already made some positive changes.
Knox Wastewater Treatment Facility Stops Treatment of MPI Waste Water
According to Knox Mayor Rick Chambers the City has had to stop accepting waste water from MPI. The company and the City have run into problems that have not been solved yet. Kelly Clemons, the Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent talked about the problem.
“Basically, the problem is that the detergents that they’re giving us is just more than what our system can handle,” explained Clemons. “Our Treatment Plant is just too small to handle the amounts they have with the growth they’ve had over the years.”
City of Knox, MPI, Working to Properly Treat Chemicals at Knox Wastewater Treatment Facility
Mayor Rick Chambers updated the Knox City Council members on the possible resumption of water discharge from the Indiana Fine Blanking (MPI) Plant in Knox into the City Wastewater Treatment Plant.
MPI has to treat the metals it produces so no rust will appear on the finished product. A soap is used in the water treatment to clean the metal. When it was discharged into the Knox Wastewater Treatment Plant, it was interfering with the plant’s equipment. According to Wastewater Superintendent, Kelly Clemons, the size of the plant and its equipment made it impossible to handle the discharge.
