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Showdown over guns at Mittal?
By Bowdeya Tweh bowdeya.tweh@nwi.com, (219) 933-3316 | Posted: Thursday, July 1, 2010 12:00 am | (69) Comments
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ArcelorMittal has warned its Northwest Indiana employees not to bring guns to work, despite a new state law that extends that right today.
House Enrolled Act 1065 allows workers to keep guns or ammunition in their locked vehicles out of plain sight, in the trunk or in a glove box while at work. It also prevents employers from creating rules that prohibit employees from keeping those items in their vehicles.
In a letter distributed Monday, the company told workers federal law pre-empts the new state law and employees cannot have firearms or ammunition at either site. The steelmaker had an existing policy prohibiting employees from bringing firearms or ammunition on company property.
"We are committed to providing all employees with a safe work environment," said the memo from Andy Harshaw, executive vice president of operations for ArcelorMittal USA. "Any employee or contractor who violates ArcelorMittal's existing policy may be immediately banned from company property, and/or disciplined up to and including discharge."
A company spokeswoman reached late Wednesday echoed comments from the memo, but didn't say which federal law was being referenced. An exemption in the new state law is carved out for facilities that have to develop a site security plan under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which ArcelorMittal may fall under according to a U.S. Coast Guard description of facilities falling under the purview of the act. The exemption isn't being used for employees at the company's global research and development facility at Indiana Harbor.
Outside the gates of the east side of the ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor complex early Thursday morning, the only activity seen was cars whizzing by to enter company property.
Tom Hargrove, president of United Steelworkers Local 1010, said he's urging his members follow the company's prescribed rules and don't be a test case challenging their rules. He also is a staunch critic of the legislation.
"I believe guns have no place in the workplace," he said.
"I do not ever want to be put into a situation where I have to call the spouse or family member of one of our employees and tell them their loved one won't be coming home tonight because a fellow employee went to their car, got a gun, and shot a co-worker," ArcelorMittal USA CEO Michael Rippey wrote in a letter to Gov. Mitch Daniels one day after the Indiana General Assembly approved the legislation in March.
When reached in March about the new Indiana law, National Rifle Association spokeswoman Rachael Parsons said the organization has pushed for years for laws prohibiting employers from preventing employees from keeping guns and ammunition in their cars at work. She called it a "right-to-carry issue."
A sharp critic of the legislation, Indiana Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Brinegar said the chamber is involved in discussions with about 10 to 20 companies on pursuing a legal challenge. But he said, as of now, there are no specific plans of action.
"There was a lot of emphasis in the lobbying effort in support of employers' (rights) to control what does or doesn't happen on their property," Brinegar said.
Exemptions are granted for schools, child care centers, prisons and other facilities or property where federal law already prohibits the existence of weapons.
Brinegar said there are other issues the law, which took effect today, doesn't address, such as whether guns can be kept in a company-owned vehicle or whether employers can require employees with guns to park in separate parking lots.
ok so why is this company allowed to make up the rules as they want them?I really hope the employees get together and file a suit challenging this rule.
Showdown over guns at Mittal?
By Bowdeya Tweh bowdeya.tweh@nwi.com, (219) 933-3316 | Posted: Thursday, July 1, 2010 12:00 am | (69) Comments
Font Size:Default font sizeLarger font size Related Documents
ArcelorMittal has warned its Northwest Indiana employees not to bring guns to work, despite a new state law that extends that right today.
House Enrolled Act 1065 allows workers to keep guns or ammunition in their locked vehicles out of plain sight, in the trunk or in a glove box while at work. It also prevents employers from creating rules that prohibit employees from keeping those items in their vehicles.
In a letter distributed Monday, the company told workers federal law pre-empts the new state law and employees cannot have firearms or ammunition at either site. The steelmaker had an existing policy prohibiting employees from bringing firearms or ammunition on company property.
"We are committed to providing all employees with a safe work environment," said the memo from Andy Harshaw, executive vice president of operations for ArcelorMittal USA. "Any employee or contractor who violates ArcelorMittal's existing policy may be immediately banned from company property, and/or disciplined up to and including discharge."
A company spokeswoman reached late Wednesday echoed comments from the memo, but didn't say which federal law was being referenced. An exemption in the new state law is carved out for facilities that have to develop a site security plan under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which ArcelorMittal may fall under according to a U.S. Coast Guard description of facilities falling under the purview of the act. The exemption isn't being used for employees at the company's global research and development facility at Indiana Harbor.
Outside the gates of the east side of the ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor complex early Thursday morning, the only activity seen was cars whizzing by to enter company property.
Tom Hargrove, president of United Steelworkers Local 1010, said he's urging his members follow the company's prescribed rules and don't be a test case challenging their rules. He also is a staunch critic of the legislation.
"I believe guns have no place in the workplace," he said.
"I do not ever want to be put into a situation where I have to call the spouse or family member of one of our employees and tell them their loved one won't be coming home tonight because a fellow employee went to their car, got a gun, and shot a co-worker," ArcelorMittal USA CEO Michael Rippey wrote in a letter to Gov. Mitch Daniels one day after the Indiana General Assembly approved the legislation in March.
When reached in March about the new Indiana law, National Rifle Association spokeswoman Rachael Parsons said the organization has pushed for years for laws prohibiting employers from preventing employees from keeping guns and ammunition in their cars at work. She called it a "right-to-carry issue."
A sharp critic of the legislation, Indiana Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Brinegar said the chamber is involved in discussions with about 10 to 20 companies on pursuing a legal challenge. But he said, as of now, there are no specific plans of action.
"There was a lot of emphasis in the lobbying effort in support of employers' (rights) to control what does or doesn't happen on their property," Brinegar said.
Exemptions are granted for schools, child care centers, prisons and other facilities or property where federal law already prohibits the existence of weapons.
Brinegar said there are other issues the law, which took effect today, doesn't address, such as whether guns can be kept in a company-owned vehicle or whether employers can require employees with guns to park in separate parking lots.
ok so why is this company allowed to make up the rules as they want them?I really hope the employees get together and file a suit challenging this rule.
