At T&W Stamping in Youngstown, Ohio, 25 workers are on the picket line protesting the company’s illegal action. The workers are members of Boilermakers Local 1622, and they’ve filed unfair labor practice charges against T&W with the NLRB.

Sean McCollum is L-1622’s Acting Chairman of Trustees, and he’s worked for T&W for seven years. He’s got two kids—ages four and nine. He says the environment was pretty good when he started with the company. He’s not sure when things began to break down, but it was time to take a stand.

“I have two little ones at home, a four year old and a nine year old, and I’m trying to show them that you’ve got to stand for something,” he says. “You can’t just let people walk all over you.

“We have families. We have goals we want to reach. My kids know I go to work and I work hard, and I want to be able to show them, ‘Look what real hard work does when you put the time in.’

“I just want to be able to get back in and make more money. People are tired and we need to make a stand. We need to be compensated for what we’re doing.”

Corey Shofroth is L-1622’s Secretary-Treasurer, and he’s a fourth-generation T&W Stamping worker. He says his kids are proud of the stance he’s taking and that he’s lucky to have a side-business with his barbecue catering MoonshineQ. But it’s seasonal, so finances are tight. Like his brothers on the picket line, Corey just wants Jessy and T&W to do the right thing: go back to the bargaining table, bargain in good faith and get everyone back to work.

Frank Fowler is L-1622’s Recording Secretary, and he’s worked for T&W Stamping for 14 years. He’s a husband and father, and the strike means he’s going without health insurance, and cutbacks in spending. It’s a struggle, and he just wants Jessy and T&W to do the right thing and get everyone back to work.

TJ King has worked for T&W Stamping for 10 years. It’s been his lifeline for 10 years and how he’s supported his wife and five kids—ages eight to 21, with the oldest in college. His co-workers are like family, and after the work they’ve put in for T&W, their treatment feels like a slap in the face. They already don’t make much money—less than the area average for similar industrial work. Yet, he says they were told they’re not worth the money they’re asking.