Workers at New Albany's FireKing International go on strike

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Employees of New Albany's FireKing International were on the picket line Monday morning.

Teamsters Local 89 represents about 80 employees, and dozens of them were on strike over a contract dispute.

Jay Dennis of Teamsters Local 89, the head negotiator, said the union rejected a recent offer over concerns about pay and healthcare.

"They need to be competitive with their peers in manufacturing," he said. "These folks in here work hard. They produce a high-quality product and they need to be rewarded for that. And I don't understand why FireKing is not doing what they need to do for their workers."

The company said it gave its final offer last week.

“We tried to address employee concerns regarding healthcare costs and proposed to reduce individual contributions," FireKing CEO Rick Meija said. "Unfortunately, the Union rejected this because it is putting the interests of the International Teamsters leadership ahead of what’s best for its individual members. We hope they reconsider this."

FireKing designs and manufactures storage products such as safes and filing cabinets.