Metropolis Honeywell union members demonstrated in front of Honeywell corporate headquarters in Washington, D.C. and attempted to meet with several lobbying firms Thursday. United Steelworkers Local 7-669, joined by D.C. AFL-CIO members delivered letters to Akin Gump, OB C Group, McBee Strategic, and Duberstein Group, who they claim Honeywell has hired along with their own in-house lobby team.
United Steel Workers Local 7-669 Representative John Paul Smith says Honeywell has ramped up political spending over the last several years allocating nearly 6 million dollars on the current election cycle alone.
Honeywell representative Peter Dalpe says Honeywell recognizes the union’s right to demonstrate but believes a settlement can only be reached at the bargaining table and is focused on negotiations.
The actions come as the lockout at the Metropolis uranium conversion facility nears the end of its second month. Negotiations between Honeywell and union members resume October 2 & 3.
The last Honeywell and union contract negotiation began in 2010 and lasted more than a year, with several workers taking other jobs during the work stoppage.
