Several Towamensing Township public works employees went on strike Friday over what their union calls the alleged illegal firing of a co-worker and ongoing labor disputes with township leadership.

The workers filed unfair labor practice charges against the township containing six separate allegations, including coercion, direct bargaining and implementing unilateral changes to employment terms without union negotiation, according to Rob Resnick, a business agent with the Teamsters Local 773.

The strike was triggered by the suspension and termination Monday of a township employee.

“We sent a notification to the township that we were conducting an unfair labor practice strike against the township,” Resnick said.

Township Supervisor Guy Seifert said Friday that officials are still gathering information about the situation.

“We have no comment at this point because we’re still waiting to be informed on the exact details,” Seifert said. “We’ve been informed they are on strike but we don’t know a whole lot more overall yet. They have some grievances and that’s really all I can say at this point because we don’t know anything more.”

The work stoppage brings uncertainty to essential services including snow removal and trash collection in the small township. The three striking workers handle a broad range of duties.

“The best way to describe it is public works,” Resnick said. “They’re the snowplow guys, the guys that pick up the trash within the township, jack of all trades.”

The union representative said workers are prepared to stay on the picket line as long as necessary but are eager to resolve the dispute.

“We are ready, willing and able to negotiate day or night to get these guys back to work,” Resnick said. “These guys don’t want to be out here, but they’re tired of the mistreatment from this particular employer.”

According to Resnick, tensions between workers and township management have been escalating since employees began organizing. After workers filed for a union election, management began changing policies, he said.

“They changed the employee handbook. They took away vacation. They took away on-call. They took away weekend recycling duties,” Resnick said.

The union has been able to reverse some of those changes at the bargaining table.

Resnick characterized the work environment as “capricious,” saying employees don’t know what conditions they’ll face each day. He also alleged that township supervisors have made hostile comments about the union.

Resnick emphasized the union is seeking reasonable terms.

“We’re bargaining in good faith,” he added. “There’s nothing outlandish within our proposals.”

When asked how long workers are prepared to strike, Resnick said, “As long as it takes.”

“We want to make sure that the township residents are serviced, and we are ready to return to work as soon as they meet with us and settle these issues,” he said.