Lead photo: Airgas drivers and fillers who are members of Teamsters Local 283 seen outside of the company’s Ferndale, MI location. (photo courtesy of Teamsters)

The union representing drivers and fillers workers at an Airgas store are on strike Ferndale, MI, citing what the group calls a repeated failure from the company to offer a fair contract.

A release from Teamsters Local 283 said that over 30 union-represented workers are demanding fair contracts that align with the standards achieved by other Airgas Teamsters nationwide.

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“The company’s repeated attempts to push a substandard contract are unacceptable,” Local 283 President Steve Hicks said in a May 9 news release. “We’re not afraid to do whatever it takes to hold this greedy corporation accountable. If Airgas keeps dragging its feet, they’ll be putting themselves on strike.”

Teamsters Local 281 said it represents over 800 workers employed in various industries throughout the Detroit area.

“We’re not complaining about the work, we just want to be paid fairly for it,” Airgas 28-year Teamster and Driver Matthew Manor added. “Nobody wants to strike, but if the company fails to offer what we deserve, we’ll have no choice but to act.”

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Teamsters local unions previously held strikes at Airgas locations in February of this year and August last year.

Radnor, PA-based Airgas — owned by Paris, France-based Air Liqude — ranked No. 4 on MDM’s Top Distributor’s List for Industrial Supplies, No. 4 for Safety and is on MDM’s unranked Gases & Welding Supplies List.