Moyno continued on A6
SPRINGFIELD — Moyno Inc. brought in temporary workers, sought an injunction against union employees who are on strike and had police officers and a hazardous-materials crew at the plant in separate incidents.
The activity happened Monday and Tuesday as Moyno tried to cope with a strike by members of United Auto Workers Local 902, who walked off the job Thursday.
Local 902, representing 128 employees working for the progressive-cavity pump manufacturer, are protesting company contract demands that include wage cuts of up to $5 an hour, elimination of benefits for workers and retirees, as well as pension freezes.
Moyno officials and parent company Robbins and Myers did not return calls for comments.
“We’re estimating they brought in around 30 to 40 (temps),” said Bill Crites, president of Local 902.
On Monday, picketing employees walked in front of the gate to protest the use of temporary workers, Crites said. Moyno later filed an injunction against the workers.
Moyno asked the court to enforce restrictions against picketing employees — including restraining employees from interfering with vehicles or people entering or leaving Moyno, damaging property or trespassing. Crites, who received the injunction Tuesday, said he was told it was to protect the surrounding neighborhood and company staff.
These restrictions are in place starting immediately until 11:30 a.m. March 26, when a preliminary hearing will be held in Clark County Common Pleas Court Judge Douglas Rastatter’s courtroom.
An incident Monday involving a picketing worker and Moyno vans carrying temporary workers may have led to the injunction.
According to an incident report from the Springfield Police Division, a Moyno employee may have been struck by a van in front of a gate, but there are conflicting reports.
The employee was transported by medics to Springfield Regional Medical Center for undisclosed injuries and was later released.
And on Tuesday, Moyno had to shut down operations at its West Jefferson Street plant after a mysterious mist erupted on the plant’s roof, causing a burning sensation to a nearby resident and a firefighter called to the scene.
Hazardous material crews responded about 4 p.m. to investigate.
If there was a release of toxic material, the release was small and did not seem to be continuing, said Clark County hazmat chief Rod Rahrle.
“The odd thing is, we’ve got two people with reactions, and everything our machines say is negative” for toxins, Rahrle said. “So that’s what we’re going to put our heads together and figure out right now.”
Springfield firefighter Jen Jordan was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center as a precaution after coming into contact with the mist, Rahrle said.
Samples taken from Moyno’s roof, where gasses are released, have all turned out to be water. Moyno is cooperating fully with the investigation, Rahrle said.
Local 902 president Crites said the use of temporary workers can cause mistakes in the plant.
“This company serves an injunction saying they want to protect the community, and then stuff goes wrong because they don’t have quality people there,” Crites said. “And they just end up hurting people.”
But residents say the mist has been in the area for a month now, well before the strike began.
The man who called 911, Mark Killin, lives across the street from the plant.
Killin said the liquid — almost like rain — has been coming out of a stack and falling into the street and onto his front yard and porch for about a month.
“The union would like to say it’s happening because of the strike, but it’s been before that,” he said. “They say it’s water, but I wouldn’t drink it.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or emason@coxohio.com.
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