METROPOLIS, Ill. -  A local union, locked out of work, has a reason to cheer Thursday. Weeks after Honeywell blocked a USW Local 7-669 representative from accompanying an OSHA inspection at the Metropolis plant, the courts ruled in favor of the union.
 
On Feb.  8, the company refused to allow a  union member to accompany the OSHA inspection team. Federal law gives the union the right to designate a “walk-around” representative. OSHA then obtained a warrant from a federal judge. On Feb. 18, Honeywell refused to honor the warrant . The company then challenged the warrant in court.

After the ruling, Honeywell spokesperson Peter Dalpe released the following statement about the outcome.

"At a court hearing held this afternoon, Honeywell challenged the court warrant allowing a union representative to accompany OSHA during its inspection following a leak at the facility Dec. 22.

"It has been and remains Honeywell's position that because there were no union employees working at the time of the leak, they do not have information about the leak, how it was handled at the time, or the actions the company has taken to help ensure it does not happen again. The union has engaged in a pattern of falsely claiming safety issues at the facility in hopes of gaining leverage in contract negotiations.

"Honeywell has and will continue to cooperate fully with OSHA inspectors. At no time has the facility prevented OSHA inspectors from entering the plant or conducting an inspection. OSHA inspectors have been on site a number of times, inspected the area of the Dec. 22 leak, reviewed documents and interviewed employees who were working at the tank farm at the time of the leak.  These employees, who have already been interviewed by OSHA, have first-hand knowledge of what happened in the plant, unlike the union members.

"Honeywell was unsuccessful in its legal challenge. The company respects the court’s decision in the matter and will comply with it, and does not plan to further challenge the decision."

WPSD Local 6 contacted USW 7-669 President Darrell Lillie, who offered this response:

"Honeywell is not being up front with the public about safety issues inside the plant.  The question that needs to be asked is, 'If Honeywell is doing everything legally and not hiding anything, why would Honeywell go to court to try to stop a union member from being inside the plant during inspections?'  If there's nothing to hide, why does Honeywell feel the need to go to court to keep union members from knowing what's going on inside?"