Union workers protest at wind farm

BENTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette-area union claimed a company working on the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County is using an out-of-state workforce instead of local workers.

Members of the Operating Engineers Local 103 were picketing jobsites near Remington and in Benton County.

They said Mullen Crane and Transport, a company based in Idaho, brought in workers from Idaho and was not employing Indiana residents.

Union representative Mike Hibbs said workers from several Lafayette-area counties are just as qualified to do the work as the crew from Idaho.

 Mullen Crane and Transport has issued this statement (PDF).

"They have approximately 10 to 12 or 15 workers that come from Idaho to take Indiana workers' jobs. The people you saw on the picket line are all Indiana workers who have been doing the work at this railyard and at the windmill farm since the inception of the projects that have started here," Hibbs said.

The parent company for Mullen Crane and Transport released a statement accusing union members of threatening Mullen employees and disregarding "No Trespassing" signs posted at the work sites. Referring to the International Union of Operating Engineers, NC Services Vice President Ron Sims said, "It is a travesty to see such a fine and reputable organization be dragged down by the unprofessional and bullying tactics of the individuals representing the IUOE 103 in Indiana."