EAST ST. LOUIS — St. Louis District Iron Workers Union claims Alpha Iron dissolved and became Red Bird Machinery, and then failed to abide by a collective bargaining agreement.
Iron Workers St. Louis District Council Pension Trust and others filed a complaint Oct. 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois Benton Division against Alpha Iron LLC and Red Bird Machinery Repair LLC.
According to the plaintiffs' complaint, Alpha agreed to a collective bargaining agreement with Iron Workers Local No. 782 of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers. They allege the agreement included Alpha being bound to "audit and collection policy procedures" and to pay contributions to the trust funds of the Iron Worker employees. The plaintiffs further allege Alpha was required to submit contribution reports.
The suit states that Alpha Iron was dissolved in March. However, Red Bird, a non-union company, retains the same management as Alpha, operates out of the same building, uses the same mailing address, phone number and employees, including iron workers within the Iron Workers St. Louis District Council. The plaintiffs allege Red Bird is required to abide by the collective bargaining agreement and has failed to pay union contributions and other requirements per the agreement.
The plaintiffs seek monetary and all other just relief. They are represented by William Blumthal, Jr., of Johnson & Kroll LLC in Chicago.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois Benton Division case number 3:21-CV-01212-DWD