ILION, N.Y. – The new Remington owners did not open the facility for maintenance Tuesday as planned, as negotiations with the workers union continue.
According to Roundhill Group, the company that acquired the Ilion plant, it is not yet clear if the company is going to be responsible to fulfill agreements made between Remington and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), which represents former Remington employees.
Richmond Italia, of Roundhill Group, told NEWSChannel 2 if the company was determined to be liable for previous obligations to the workers, they would not be able to reopen the plant.
UMWA President Cecil E. Roberts released a statement Tuesday, saying the union only wants the company to rehire former workers, and recognize the union as their representative.
Read Roberts’ full statement below:
“The statements of Mr. Richmond Italia to the local media yesterday were once again confusing to the UMWA and its members. We have reached a tentative agreement with the Remington Outdoor Company (old Remington), on issues where we could agree, regarding the outstanding employee legacies of that company. What we have not agreed upon, the bankruptcy court will decide. Roundhill knows this, and knows that the UMWA has not and does not consider Roundhill liable for those legacy issues.
“As far as we are concerned there are no bankruptcy-related issues that should justify Roundhill’s repeated threats to keep the Ilion plant closed. We have told them that, and are willing to tell them again today, tomorrow or any other day that Roundhill’s negotiators decide to reengage at the bargaining table.
“All we are asking of Roundhill is to hire our members back to work in the Ilion plant when it is reopened and recognize the UMWA as their collective bargaining representative. That’s it.
“Our negotiating team has made itself available to talk with Roundhill week after week with little response. These issues will more readily be settled in good-faith negotiations at the bargaining table. That is where agreements are made, not the media.”
