Stepan Continues to Balk at Negotiations

(JOLIET, IL.) -- Stepan Chemical Company (NYSE: SCL) continued its lockout of more than 200 Teamster workers at its Joliet-area facility, following an abbreviated negotiations session this morning. 

The company, which locked out its workers July 15, led the Teamsters to believe it was ready to resume negotiations, but then offered the same proposals it had prior to the lockout.

“It was a Mickey Mouse kind of move,” said Rich Gierut, Teamsters Local 179 President. “We would like to end this lockout and to do that we need to sit down and get serious about negotiations.”

Teamsters Local 179 represents workers who create and process the chemicals sold by Stepan and used in many commonly used detergents, cleansers, paints and other products.

Stepan lawyers refused to budge on company demands that employees shoulder more of the costs of health care premiums in excess of 20 percent of the health care costs. 

Teamsters Local 179 represents more than 2,500 members in various industries throughout Will and Grundy counties.