Sauk Rapids company hit with unfair labor practice charge

A union this morning filed an unfair labor practices charge against Knife River-Central Minnesota Division, a commercial aggregate producer in Sauk Rapids.

According to the charge, filed with the National Labor Relations Board by the International Union of Operating Engineers/Local 49, Knife River:

• Refused to reinstate a laid off worker because of his (and his brother's) union activity despite seniority on the callback list.

• Threatened to deny benefits to workers solely because of their union status.

• Reduced the method and hours paid for union members without negotiating.

• Changed employment terms and conditions for union members without negotiating.

• Limited hours worked for union members by creating production quotas without negotiating.

Knife River spokeswoman Pamela Trhlik said the company was surprised by the filing.

Trhlik said Knife River is in the midst of negotiating its first contract with Local 49, which would cover 27 of its roughly 800 employees in the Central Minnesota Division.

She said the dispute surrounds call-backs in what is a seasonal business that is struggling in tough economic times. She added that the union wants its workers to be called back to duty based on strictly on seniority, while the company emphasizes work performance with seniority as a secondary factor.