Striking machinists find success with help of local unions

Striking machinists find success with help of local unions. Photo by Abby Hoover

By Abby Hoover, Managing Editor

Unionized employees of a small family-owned company in the Northeast Industrial District went on strike after their employer failed to deliver negotiated raises, and they won.

Highway Trailer sells, services and provides parts for trailers that have been an essential piece of shipping supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We keep the semis on the road,” Highway Trailer mechanic William VanGerpen said. “We don’t work on the truck part of it, we just do trailer repairs. Anything from somebody comes in and they’ve got a light burnt out, we replace that, to rebuild major wrecks that take 120, 130 hours.”

They employ five union mechanics, and have a staff of 11, many of them family of the owner, Terry Leigh. Four employees have been out on strike since July 1. There’s one other union member still on the job, who was just hired in June, but his co-workers understand his situation.

“The three guys that are turning wrenches in there now, they’re normally in the office,” VanGerpen said during Friday’s strike.

VanGerpen has worked for the company for 23 years. For as long as he can remember, they’ve been on a three year contract. In 2019 and 2020, the owner told them he didn’t have the money to fulfill the negotiated raises.

“Us as mechanics trying to help him out, decided, ‘Alright, we’ll take a wage freeze,’ and he did it for two years, and during those negotiations he said, ‘I’ll make it up to you.’ So when contract time comes around, he still ain’t got no money.”

VanGerpen said Leigh wanted his employees to start paying part of their insurance, which has never happened there before.

“He was wanting to do away with having to take care of our union benefits for our pension, and he was offering a little bit of a raise, but by the time he took everything else away, we would be going backwards, pay wise,” VanGerpen said. 

In the days leading up to the strike, people were calling the owner trying to get back into negotiations, but found little success. 

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II hears from striking employees. Photo by Abby Hoover

“We appreciate all the support we can get because these guys need to get back to work,” said Larry Young, a statewide representative from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). Local Lodge 778 of IAM has around 3,500 members.

“We worked all the way through the coronavirus,” VanGerpen said. “These doors have never shut, and the mechanics have always had something to work on. There hasn’t been a lot of time when you’re standing around twiddling your thumbs or pushing a broom, you always got something to work on.”

They weren’t even asking for the two years’ worth of raises they had previously negotiated, but just a standard raise and no changes to benefits, Young said. 

President Tim Dupin and Daniel Heizman of IAFF Local 42 presented the striking employees with a check for $1,000 to support their efforts. Photo by Abby Hoover

“I could understand if we’re asking for something outrageous, but we’re not,” striking machinist William VanGerpen said.

“These guys have forfeited their negotiated increases for the last two years to help him out because he said he was broke, despite before COVID and right while COVID was going on these guys were willing to help him out,” – said. “He was telling these guys, ‘If you help me out now, then I’ll make sure to take care of you later,’ and later is now.”

“We just came here to support our brothers in the strike, these efforts, and hope they have a quick end to their dispute and get back to work,” Dupin said. “I think it’s disappointing. Any time you have these disputes and they end up stopping work, people are out of work, and the difficulties they have while they’re in these negotiations are always hard on especially employees, and it doesn’t help the economy or the business either.”

Missouri Rep. Ingrid Burnett (D-19) stopped by on Thursday to show her support, and U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II was present at the strike on Friday, handing out Kansas City’s famous barbecue and encouraging their efforts. 

“At one point, they voluntarily gave up portions of their salary in order to be supportive of the company, so they’re not asking for anything that’s unreasonable,” Cleaver said. “All they want is the acknowledgement that they’ve been working with the ownership and the management, and there was never any reciprocal move by the company, so I just wanted to come out and help, bring them lunch as say, ‘Hey, I sympathize with what you guys are doing.’”

People who have worked through a very dangerous period of time, and have remained faithful even in the presence of personal danger, should get optimum consideration from the management, Cleaver said. 

“I think at the bare minimum, we’ve got to make sure workers are paid fairly and they have decent working conditions,” Cleaver said.

He expects the company will have a hard time finding employees who will cross the picket line, especially with the workforce shortages Cleaver has seen personally across his district.

“In the midst of a workforce shortage, this would be the time, I would think, that you would really try and work with your employees,” Cleaver said. “I know places right now that are giving raises to everybody in that workforce to keep them from quitting because they’re going to have difficulty finding people to come in.”

With the Paycheck Protection Program, Cleaver said they were helping companies who were keeping their employees and not reducing their benefits or pay during the pandemic.

“When you find people who are not giving what the workers consider to be optimum consideration, we’ve got to remind them of the current state of affairs in this country,” Cleaver said. “We have more jobs right now than we have people, we have a workforce shortage in the United States, and here we have people wanting to work. They’d rather be at work today than standing out here.”

Rudy Chavez, Business Representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 124, imparts wisdom on interns of Rep. Cleaver’s office. Photo by Abby Hoover

“We’re a brotherhood, it doesn’t matter if we’re in the same union or another union, we always stand together and stand up for the working man,” Chris Barnes said, who serves on IBEW’s local executive board. “I think it’s been a give and take relationship, and we’re always willing to give what we can to help out with the employer, and I think sometimes they worry more about the bottom line and not as much about their employees.”

When it comes to something the employer needs, there’s always money for it, but not to give to the workers, said James Wilkinson, a 36-year veteran of the electrical industry.

“The main reason I’m out here is because what’s happening to them could happen to us,” said Wilkinson, who also serves on Local 124’s executive board. “And I would love it if they came and supported us.”

Nick Townsend and his father James Townsend were both out on strike from Highway Trailer. Nick started working at Highway Trailer three years ago, and encouraged his father to apply. They work side by side every day. They were already family, but now have a union brotherhood backing them.

“It feels great, we love it,” Nick said. “We were kind of in despair there, just a few of us, but now we have support out here. It’s awesome, it feels good.”

Jackson County First District At-Large Legislator Jalen Anderson grew up in a union household, so he attended the strike on Friday to stand with the essential workers who felt they weren’t being treated fairly.

“It’s wrong because they’ve worked all throughout COVID, up until last week, but it’s amazing that some people are in that mindset to still try to make money off of people who have put in their time, risked their lives – I mean, we didn’t even have the vaccine last year – and kept working.”

With momentum building each day, the group was planning their largest day of the strike for Tuesday, July 13. The strike concluded just days before when Leigh came to the table ready to negotiate.

“I guarantee it opened his eyes, because he was thinking there were just four of us out here and we’ll give up and go home,” James said. “It’s getting bigger every day.”

The union employees maintained their health insurance, and got a 10% wage increase.

Want Northeast News articles sent straight to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
Enter your email address and click on the Get Instant Access button.
We respect your privacy

Comments are closed.

  • One dead, three wounded in overnight Avenue shooting.

    December 9th, 2023
    by

    Friday evening at about 9:20 Kansas City, MO Polie Officers were called to the area of Independence Aveue and Cleveland […]


    ‘El acceso al idioma es un derecho humano’, detrás de la campaña de acceso al idioma de Inquilines KC

    December 6th, 2023
    by

    Daisy Garcia Montoya  Reportero de educación Inquilinos KC está uniendo fuerzas con el gobierno local e involucrando a los miembros […]


    ‘Language access is a human right’ behind KC Tenant’s language access campaign 

    December 6th, 2023
    by

    Daisy Garcia Montoya Education Reporter KC Tenants is joining forces with local government and engaging community members in efforts to create […]


    East High’s Soccer Triumph: A Story of Diversity, Resilience, and Championship Glory

    December 6th, 2023
    by

    EllieAna Hale Reporter On Nov. 18, the East High School Varsity Boys Soccer team showed off impressive skill, determination and […]


    Seven Historic Homes open for Holiday Homes Tour

    December 6th, 2023
    by

    Michael Bushnell Reporter After a three year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Pendleton Heights Neighborhood is hosting its Holiday […]


    Work Continues on the Low Bridge Warning Curtain System 

    December 6th, 2023
    by

    Michael BushnellPublisher Exploratory holes were drilled last Friday in preparation for the installation of the new warning system scheduled to […]


    Jerry and Virginia Celebrating Seventy Years of Family and Community

    December 6th, 2023
    by

    Mark MoralesContributor  Jerry and Virginia Morales, longtime residents of Northeast’s Sheffield Neighborhood, recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.  Jerry and […]


    Multidisciplinary Task Force aims to reduce crime on the Avenue

    November 30th, 2023
    by

    Michael Bushnell Reporter Representatives from over a dozen city departments were joined by Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and City […]


    Holiday Bazaar helps Sheffield Place residents learn skills

    November 29th, 2023
    by

    Dorri Partain Contributor An annual holiday event that showcases the efforts of Historic Northeast’s Sheffield Place also helps the residents learn […]


  • Local Author Catherine Browder Debuts New Novel, The Manning Girl

    November 29th, 2023
    by

    EllieAna HaleReporter  Catherine Browder, a familiar face in the Historic Northeast Neighborhood, reveals her debut novel, The Manning Girl. A […]


    Whatsoever Community Center Launches GoFundMe Campaign After Fire Destroys Building

    November 29th, 2023
    by

    EllieAna HaleReporter Whatsoever Community Center, a center for education and community support since 1915, is recovering from the aftermath of […]


    Keep Loneliness at Bay: A Holiday Guide to Connecting with Others

    November 29th, 2023
    by

    The holiday season is often seen as a time of warmth and connection. However, for many, it can also be […]


    Call for Glass Artists!

    November 29th, 2023
    by

    The Kansas City Museum is excited to participate in a collaboration with the Belger Glass Annex, which has been invited […]


    Its Giving Tuesday, Support your Northeast News

    November 28th, 2023
    by

    Dear readers, In this week’s Print edition, our News team covered stories spotlighting  Sheffield Place residents learning microenterprise skills through […]


    Hit and Run near Independence Ave and Kensington claims one life

    November 26th, 2023
    by

    UPDATE: The victim in this case has been identified as 24-year old Taahir S. Whaley of Kansas City, Missouri. Sunday […]


    Most Missouri families can’t rely on public transit to get their kids to Head Start

    November 22nd, 2023
    by

    Jodi FortinoKCUR Reporter In Missouri, just under 25% of its Head Start centers are within a walkable distance from a […]


    La Biblioteca de la Imaginación de Dolly Parton se amplía a Missouri 

    November 22nd, 2023
    by

    Daisy Garcia Montoya Reportero de educación Las familias en Missouri ahora pueden registrar a sus niños menores de cinco años para […]


    Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library expands to Missouri 

    November 22nd, 2023
    by

    Daisy Garcia Montoya Education Reporter Families in Missouri can now register their children under five years old to receive a free […]


  • Postcard


  • Remember This?

    Remember This?

    December 6th, 2023
    by

  • Want articles sent directly to your inbox each week? Subscribe below!
    We respect your privacy and will not distribute your information.