WARREN, Ohio - Teamsters who conducted a couple of “practice” strikes this year at a Warren company went on strike for real early Wednesday.

Teamster Local 377 Vice President Ken Sabo announced that members set up a picket line at Stericycle on Pine Avenue over what he said is unfair labor practices.

The union conducted picketing in May and earlier this month claiming that they have been working without a contract for a year and attempts to renegotiate have been unsuccessful.

Stericycle responded with the following statement:

"Stericycle is proud to be part of the Warren, Ohio, community, as we play an essential role in protecting people, promoting health, and safeguarding the environment through our regulated waste and compliance services and secure information destruction solutions. We operate within the law in each jurisdiction where we have operations, and this includes following the National Labor Relations Act.

"For nearly a year, we have been actively engaged in good faith negotiations with Teamsters Local 377 on a renewal collective bargaining agreement covering team members in our Warren, Ohio, location. Last week, Stericycle provided a revised settlement proposal, which still included significant enhancements to wages, vacation time, and updates to company policies, among other changes. Unfortunately, instead of engaging with us, the union has decided to engage in a work stoppage during a global pandemic.

"As a company that protects what matters, we have brought in additional facility workers and drivers to ensure we continue to provide our healthcare customers and our communities with essential services, especially as they deal with the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We remain committed to bargaining in good faith and are hopeful that representatives from Teamsters Local 377 will come back to the bargaining table."

Earlier this month Stericycle issued a statement saying it has been negotiating with the Teamsters local for nearly a year.  The statement went on to say that the union recently rejected a contract proposal from Stericycle that included “significant enhancement” to wages, vacation time, and updates to company policies.