Brown and Stevens Call on Airgas to Engage in Good Faith Negotiations with Union Workers

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) have written to Airgas CEO Marcelo Fioranelli calling upon Airgas to engage in good faith negotiations with workers as required by federal law. 

Workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Cleveland, Ohio; Ferndale, Michigan; and other locations are seeking a contract with Airgas. Workers in Ohio, New Jersey, and other locations are now on strike. 

The members write: “We urge you to meet your obligations as an employer covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to negotiate in good faith and refrain from union-busting tactics, such as eliminating bonuses and raises, terminating union support, and imposing changes to staffing and scheduling practices.”

Brown and Stevens are members of the Congressional Labor Caucus. 

The full text of the letter is available here and copied below:

June 27, 2025

 

Marcelo Fioranelli
CEO
Airgas
259 North Radnor Chester Rd.
Suite 100
Radnor, PA 19087

Dear Mr. Fioranelli,

We, the undersigned members of Congress, urge Airgas to engage in good faith negotiations, as required by Federal law. We encourage you to commit to fair negotiations and to reach collective bargaining agreements with workers at your Cleveland, Ohio; Ferndale, Michigan; and New Brunswick, New Jersey locations.

We urge you to meet your obligations as an employer covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to negotiate in good faith and refrain from union-busting tactics, such as eliminating bonuses and raises, terminating union support, and imposing changes to staffing and scheduling practices.

We are especially concerned by what our constituents have described as prolonged delays and a lack of meaningful progress at the bargaining table. These workers are essential to the distribution of gases in our districts and their work has a direct impact on the health of our constituents, their local economies, and American infrastructure.

It is our understanding that these workers have been engaged in negotiations with Airgas for a year without reaching an agreement. Given that it is the policy of the United States to encourage collective bargaining under the NLRA, we urge Airgas to respect employee rights to organize, maintain neutrality in future union elections, and refrain from utilizing unlawful union-busting tactics.

Again, we urge you to act in good faith to reach a fair contract with Airgas workers.

Sincerely,

Shontel M. Brown
Member of Congress

Haley M. Stevens
Member of Congress