IBEW 309 banners Frost Electric Supply

Maryland Heights – IBEW Local 309 is hand-billing and bannering Frost Electric Supply.

Local 309 was recently elected by Illinois warehouse employees of Frost as their collective bargaining representative. For year’s, Frost’s Missouri-side employees have been union (IBEW Local 1) and Illinois employees want a fair contract, too.

Frost is demanding that warehouse employees in Illinois be paid substantially less than warehouse employees in Missouri. Frost apparently thinks that employees who do the same work, with similar years of experience, should be paid much less based on which side of the river they work on.

“We want parity with St. Louis,” Local 309 Business Manager Scott Hassall said. “They want to pay substantially less. Why should Illinois employees be treated differently?”

Local 309 representatives recently visited Frost headquarters at 2429 Schuetz Road in Maryland Heights with a message not to patronize Frost.

Local 1 is backing Local 309 in its efforts to get a fair contract.

“It can only help us that they get their wages over there,” Local 1 Business Manager Frank Jacobs said. “Because if they get a contract for less than we’re getting over here, it’s going to hurt us the next time we come up for a contact.”

Local 309 is hoping the IBEW’s ability to stick together will help in its negotiations with Frost.