Bull Moose Tube President explains company’s side of the lock-out

TRENTON, Georgia (WDEF) – Members of the United Steel Workers union are still waiting to see what the next move is from Bull Moose.

That company locked-out 63 workers yesterday morning over failed “wages and benefits” negotiations.

The Dade county manufacturer of metal tubing products points-out it’s not a strike…but rather a lock-out for the unionized employees.

The employees say they were told that if they go beyond the markers placed near the roadway, they will be arrested.

The union says the negotiations began back in February, but have reached a stalemate.

Company president Jim Charmley told us by phone today some of the issues involved.

“From the Company’s perspective, because we’re willing to pay them three thousand dollars more per year and asking them to cover a couple hundred more per year on health care, from our perspective it’s a very generous offer, but the union doesn’t agree with that and unfortunately we’ve had to get to this, sort of worst case scenario where we’ve had to close our doors.”

Charmley says in the 30 year history of the company, they have never had to take this step in any of their 9 facilities.