MIDDLEVILLE, MICHIGAN — A third-party truck driver has been banned from all Bradford White facilities after video captured him driving into UAW Local 1002 members picketing the Crane Road entrance of the company’s Middleville warehouse Wednesday morning, knocking one striker into another and sending her to the ground before driving off through the crowd.
The incident occurred September 30 at the Bradford White Crane Road entrance. The driver was attempting to exit the property when protesters blocked the truck entrance as part of their ongoing strike for better wages and continued family health care coverage. According to witnesses, the truck initially appeared to pause — then lurched forward.
“We had a truck that was on company property, and we backed him up, and all of a sudden, you know, he did a stutter step, and then he just popped the clutch and hit us,” said Chad Hall, one of the workers struck. “Knocked me into another member and sped away.”
Hall was knocked into a female coworker who fell to the ground. “It definitely knocked the wind out of me. It knocked her to the ground because it knocked me into her.” Hall visited urgent care in Caledonia before returning to the union hall Wednesday afternoon.
It was the second time in a week a vehicle struck a picketer at the Bradford White facility. The previous week, a woman on the picket line was hit by a car trying to leave the parking lot.
UAW Local 1002 bargaining chair Dan Snowden said the driver’s impatience did not justify what happened. “I don’t think it was right that the semi driver did that. Whether he’s impatient to get out or not, it’s a strike line. You’re going to get out.”
Bradford White confirmed the driver is a third-party contractor and not a company employee, and said he has been barred from making deliveries to any of its facilities. “We will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for anyone engaging in aggressive behavior,” the company said. “Our guidance has been to demonstrate kindness and understanding to everyone when crossing the picket line, respecting people’s right to a peaceful protest.”
The company also reiterated its commitment to reaching an agreement with Local 1002. “We want our team back to work as soon as possible and to continue being a leading employer in West Michigan.”
Interviews courtesy of local media.
📸 Image(s) used under fair use for news reporting.
