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Campbellsburg, Ind., July 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A hearing officer for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisively recommended that Metal Powder Products' (MPP) objections to the April 10th union election be overruled, where a majority of workers at the Campbellsburg plant voted to join the industrial division of the Communications Workers of America (IUE-CWA). This ruling underscores MPP's persistent and underhanded attempts to obstruct its employees' rights to unionize and seek fair representation.

Following a thorough review, the NLRB’s hearing officer found no credible evidence to substantiate MPP's allegations or to rerun the election. Consequently, the hearing officer overruled the objections in their entirety, confirming the legitimacy of the workers' decision to unionize and shedding light on ongoing concerns regarding MPP's treatment of its workforce.

Recently, IUE-CWA filed several Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charges against MPP, alleging the company engaged in unlawful conduct. These charges included unlawful interrogation, perceived surveillance, and removal of union materials from workers' personal spaces. Together with MPP's baseless election objections, these actions underscore a troubling pattern aimed at suppressing workers' rights.

"MPP's attempts to disenfranchise its workers and sow discord have been exposed," said Carl Kennebrew, President of IUE-CWA. "Our members stand united, committed to achieving a workplace where their rights are respected and their voices heard. They will not be silenced by the company’s bullying and intimidation tactics."

MPP, owned by Mill Point Capital, a New York-based private equity firm managing over $1.4 billion in capital commitments, faces increasing scrutiny regarding corporate responsibility and ethical governance. Investors and stakeholders alike should consider the implications of supporting companies that prioritize profits over fair treatment of their workforce.

Despite MPP's efforts to delay and contest the election, the workers at the Campbellsburg plant remain steadfast. They have elected a bargaining committee and stewards, with the first bargaining session scheduled for July 22nd. This group, comprising approximately 160 workers, will join workers at two IUE-CWA-represented facilities in Pennsylvania.

"The solidarity and determination of our members are unwavering," Kennebrew added. "As we enter negotiations, we remain committed to securing improved conditions and a brighter future for all employees at MPP."

IUE-CWA is the industrial division of Communication Workers of America representing a force of 150,000 active and retired men and women united collectively to seek dignity on the job and a secure future for ourselves, our children and all future generations.

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Operation Back To School is back!

This program provides financial assistance to Indiana veteran families experiencing financial difficulty.

The program offers $500 per qualified dependent for back-to-school supplies and other school related expenses.

Families can begin applying on July 15. The application period closes on August 30.

Apply Now!

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INDIANA (July 16, 2024) — In a remarkable achievement for sustainable agriculture, the latest results from the Conservation Tillage Transect survey reveal that 1.7 million acres of farmland are now under living cover across all crops in Indiana. This significant milestone underscores the increasing adoption of cover crops by farmers, driven by their multiple benefits for soil health, water management and overall farm productivity.

“Protecting soil, our most vital natural resource, is top of mind for our Indiana farmers and year after year our farmers are breaking their own conservation records” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Through the implementation of cover crops and other conservation efforts, farmers are ensuring our land and water resources remain healthy and productive for years to come." 

Overwintering living covers (i.e. - cover crops and small grains, like wheat) are known for their environmental benefits. Cover crops and small grains help increase organic matter in the soil and improve overall soil health by adding living roots to the soil more months of the year. Cover crops also improve water infiltration into the soil, while other covers, like legumes serve as natural fertilizers.

Although the conservation transect does not differentiate between cover crops and small grains, Indiana farmers typically plant fewer than 300,000 acres of small grains annually, so cover crops vastly dominate the 1.7 million estimated acres. Apart from corn and soybeans, cover crops are planted on more acres than any other commodity crop in Indiana. Cover crops are typically planted in the fall after harvest and designed to protect the soil and keep roots in the ground throughout the winter, which improves soil health and helps filter water runoff.

"These results are very encouraging," said Damarys Mortenson, state conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Indiana. "The adoption of cover crops on such a large scale indicates that farmers are recognizing the long-term benefits of these practices for both their land and the environment."

Farmers like Todd Armstrong, who operates a 1,100-acre farm in Washington County, have seen firsthand the advantages of cover crops.

“The water holding capacity and tilth of the ground has just improved so much and my neighbors have even seen that,” said Armstrong. “Neighbors that worked ground every year have stopped and started incorporating cover crops because they’ve seen how good it has worked for us.”

As a result of the cover crops and other overwintering covers planted last year, it is estimated that 1.8 million tons of sediment was prevented from entering Indiana’s waterways, which would fill about 18.4 thousand train freight cars.

The conservation survey also showed that about 69% of row crop acres were not tilled and about 17% had employed reduced tillage over winter, after the 2023 harvest. This early spring survey is not intended to quantify pre-planting tillage.

Despite the clear benefits, there are challenges to the widespread adoption of cover crops, including the initial cost of seeds and the need for additional management skills. However, various federal and state programs offer financial incentives and technical assistance to help farmers incorporate cover crops into their operations. One such initiative that helped contribute to the successful year for cover crops in 2023 was the Cover Crop Premium Discount Program (CCPDP). It is a program that provides a discount on crop insurance for planting cover crops. CCPDP assisted landowners in planting about 19 thousand acres of cover crops in 2023.

The conservation transect is a visual survey of cropland in the state. It was conducted between March and May 2024 by members of the Indiana Conservation Partnership, including the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Purdue Extension, as well as Earth Team volunteers, to show a more complete story of the state’s conservation efforts.

To see the full conservation transect report, click here. 

ABOUT ISDA

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) reports to Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch,  Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.

ABOUT NRCS

NRCS is helping private landowners improve the health of their operations while protecting our natural resources for the future. With the mission of “Helping People Help the Land,” NRCS in Indiana provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers to implement conservation practices to address natural resource concerns on their land related to soil health, water and air quality, and wildlife habitat as well as implement climate-smart agriculture practices.  USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

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Salem, IN:  Salem Crossing, a member of American Senior Communities (ASC), has been recognized as a 2024 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award recipient by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The award is the second of three distinctions possible through the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Program, which recognizes organizations that meet progressively rigorous standards of performance to further improve the lives of residents and staff in long term care.   

Salem Crossing joins 13 other ASC communities in receiving Silver status this year. There are also 14 other ASC locations who have previously achieved and continue to maintain AHCA/NCAL Silver status. ASC communities currently account for 60% of all Indiana Silver recipients.   

CEO Steve Van Camp said, “Achieving Silver status makes all of us at ASC incredibly proud of the teams at each of this year’s recipient communities. Reaching this level and maintaining it takes hard work and a strong focus on continuous quality care, all day, every day. It requires a united effort from each staff member and cannot be accomplished without dedication to teamwork and adherence to our core values.”  

The National Quality Award Program has three progressive levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. At the Silver level, recipients previously met criteria for the Bronze award and can now move on to the final and most prestigious level of the program, the Gold – Excellence in Quality Award. Trained examiners review each application to determine if the communities have met the demands of the criteria.    

The National Quality Awards will be presented during Delivering Solutions 24, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, October 6-9, 2024, in Orlando, Florida. ​