Strike ends at South St. Paul tannery after agreement reached

Workers at a leather tannery in South St. Paul will return to work on Monday, saying they have reached an agreement after a week-long strike.

About 65 union workers at Twin City Tanning went on strike, alleging that the company was unwilling to negotiate in good faith at the bargaining table.

“They have now secured a contract with pay increases above the industry standard, attendance bonuses, and a ratification bonus,” according to a Saturday press release.

The union workers are represented by the Chicago & Midwest Regional Joint Board, Workers United Local 150.

The workers’ biggest demand revolved around pay, which they say doesn’t line up with the dangerous nature of their work.

Founded in 1988, Twin City Tanning is an affiliate of the nearby Twin City Hide and is listed as a certified supplier by the Leather Working Group, a global nonprofit that encourages sustainable leather production. Officials from Twin City Tanning declined to comment.

At a tannery, the raw animal hide goes through a series of chemical and mechanical treatments to remove hair, fat and flesh before a tanning agent is added to the hide to prevent it from decaying.

“There’s hazards all over the place,” said Mark Aufderhar, a maintenance worker at the tannery.

“You can’t have just anyone doing these jobs,” he said, adding that certain chemicals they use like chromium salts and sulfuric acid can cause severe burns if not handled properly.