AdvanSix workers in Hopewell go on strike reportedly over wage issues in new contract
HOPEWELL – More than 340 workers walked off the job Thursday at AdvanSix as the nylon-resin manufacturer not only faces issues over labor but also an ongoing battle with state environmental authorities over reports of 66 clean air and water violations over the past eight years.
The strike is affecting the south side of the plant on state Route 10 in east Hopewell. The walkout, believed to be over wage negotiations in a new contract, involves the Hopewell South bargaining unit that includes chemical, food and commercial, machine-operation, electrical and plumbing workers.
For union representation, AdvanSix – formerly known as Allied Chemical, Allied-Signal and Honeywell – is divided into north and south units. The north unit is operated under a separate contract with the United Steelworkers.
Tommy Humphries, a representative of the International Chemical Workers Union Council and the United Food and Commercial Workers, said in a text to The Progress-Index Friday night that the union would be releasing a statement about the strike over the weekend. AdvanSix released its own statement Friday, saying it proposed “a new labor agreement that is fair and competitive in the market and equitable for our employees” that included terms offering “a market-based, role-specific wage approach.”
The statement did not mention specifics about those terms.
AdvanSix president and CEO Erin Kane said in the statement that the company “bargained in good faith” over the agreement. Kane also said AdvanSix was operating under a contingency plan to ensure seamless operations for its customers while the strike continues.
“AdvanSix is committed to doing its part to reach a resolution to this situation and calls on the union to do the same,” Kane said.
No timetable has been given for when negotiations will resume.
More: Spill of oleum reported at AdvanSix in Hopewell Tuesday morning. Officials say it's contained.
Enviromental worries as well
Meanwhile, the city of Hopewell released its own statement Friday afternoon saying it had “recently become aware” of environmental concerns at the plant. The city said it planned to ask the state Department of Environmental Quality and the federal Environmental Protection Agency for help with a remediation plan addressing the issues.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Friday that AdvanSix had been flagged 66 times since 2015 for releasing chemicals into the air and into the James River that flows behind the plant.
“Our citizens deserve and demand a city that is free from pollution,” interim city manager Dr. Concetta Manker said in the statement. “The air quality in Hopewell is a subject the city takes very seriously.”
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell nylon plant faces strike by 340 union workers
