FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — The Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) has initiated a lockout of the United Steelworkers (USW) after their contract expired, and the two have not been able to come to a collective bargaining agreement.
When the prior contract expired on Tuesday, it was unclear what the future of the union workers would look like while employed at NIPSCO. On Thursday, NIPSCO released a brief statement on its decision to initiate a lockout of the unionized employees.
NIPSCO union employees hold solidarity events as contract negotiations continue
The company said that the lockout will “remain in place until the Union agrees to the Company’s last, best and final offer and a new agreement is reached.”
The USW issued a response to the action, as well as the press release, saying over 1,600 workers were kept from their work. These 1,600 were members of the USW Local 12775 and Local 13796, those who also stood in solidarity by taking part in protests across northern Indiana on Sunday…