Local Lodge 524

IP Jones and former L-524 president join panel discussion on Union Tank Car closure

A DOCUMENTARY FILM from UNITE HERE on corporate abuse of tax breaks for economic development premiered at Teamsters headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 13. Union and congressional leaders heard about the issue from a panel that included AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka, Boilermakers International President Newton B. Jones, UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm, and Kelly Hounshell, President of Local 524 when the closing of Union Tank Car ended the lodge.

Local 524 members are out of work

40 YEARS, 400 JOBS. That was the headline of a local newspaper story announcing the May 30th closing of Union Tank Car in East Chicago, Ind.

That’s 400 Boilermaker jobs — all members of Local Lodge 524.

L-524 Pres. Kelly Hounshell, a 27-year employee at the railroad car manufacturer, got word of the plant closing in March. A few months earlier the company cut production in half and laid-off 100 employees.

Members from six affiliate lodges attend class

NEARLY 20 MEMBERS from six lodges attended a one-day program on safety and health at the AmeriHost Inn in Hammond, Ind., March 28.