Teamsters Strike at W. Va. Cummins Plant

Forty-three employees of a distributor for diesel engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. went on strike Sunday at a plant in South Charleston, W.Va., the Associated Press reported.

The Teamsters members set up picket lines at 6 a.m. Sunday and negotiations are scheduled for Monday, AP reported.

One union member told AP the plant was purchased by Cummins unit Cummins Crosspoint in September, and that company has refused to honor the collective bargaining agreement that was in place at the time of the sale.

He said union employees had their health premiums tripled and that the company failed to recognize seniority rights of long-time employees. Cummins Crosspoint employees work on and provide parts for engines, generators and other equipment.

The unit has operations in West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee, according to Cummins’ Web site, AP reported.