Remington in Hot Water Over Firing Employees, Facing Federal Investigation

Authors Industry News Jordan Michaels This Week
Remington in Hot Water Over Firing Employees, Facing Federal Investigation
(Photo: Mitch Barrie/Flickr)

Big Green isn’t quite out of the woods yet. After dividing up and selling off its assets as part of its bankruptcy agreement, Remington is facing a federal investigation for firing nearly 600 employees at its factory in Ilion, NY, and refusing to pay severance or vacation.

The employees were notified on Oct. 23 that their terminations would be effective on Oct. 26, according to local media. According to a release sent by the United Mine Workers of America, the union representing the workers, Remington is also cutting off contractual benefits like healthcare, severance pay, and accrued vacation on Oct. 31.

The union says the company is required to pay these benefits under the collective bargaining agreement and is calling on the National Labor Relations Board to investigate.

“These workers built this company,” said Cecil Roberts, UMWA International President. “They worked hard and expected old Remington ownership to recognize that and live up to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. Instead, on its way out the door old Remington ownership is refusing to pay money it is legally obligated to pay the workers. That is more than an unfair labor practice, it is theft, and must be investigated by the National Labor Relations Board.”

The union is joined by US Congressman Anthony Brindisi, who wrote a letter to the NLRB requesting an investigation.

SEE ALSO: Bankrupt Remington Properties Bought by Franklin, Ruger, Sierra and More

“These hard-working men and women deserve to be treated with dignity and they deserve the benefits they fought for,” Brindisi said. “Remington is trying to leave this community and these workers high and dry, but we aren’t going to let them. I am calling on the National Labor Relations Board to step in and investigate this issue.”

Remington workers held a rally Thursday to protest the company’s actions.

The buyer who purchased the Remington factory in Ilion plans to reopen the facility and rehire some of the employees, according to the union. But there is conflict on that front as well. A report this week indicated that Remington’s former CEO, Ken D’Arcy, used a front man at a company called Roundhill Group to purchase the facility in bankruptcy and regain control after the deal had been completed.

GunsAmerica has not confirmed the veracity of this report, and the publication has not revealed its source.

The NLRB has not announced whether it will follow through on the union’s call for an investigation. Meanwhile, 585 former Remington employees are out of work, and it’s unclear whether the factory will actually reopen.

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  • Tee cee November 1, 2020, 8:48 pm

    The only IDIOT here is the one that wrote this message in the first place. The police will not be able to get to u in time. U will be dead an ur wife RAPED an CHILDREN while u are made to watch. NOW WHO IS THE IDIOT NOW YOU IDIOT.

  • Fatboy Greg previous November 1, 2020, 10:31 am

    All this is doing is hurting consumers n yes they shut down American business’s and we start relying on cheap imports like you said they close American company’s and ammunition makers then we rely on cheaper products n they shut down import n then all Americans get screwed. Can’t buy guns, ammo or And still become so federal appeals court side to be separated and change the rules would do it different.BE AMERICAN BUY AMERICAN THE JOB YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!!!! THEY STOP ALLOWING IMLORTS THEN THE HUNTERS. WEEKEND SHOOTERS CANT GET NEEDED AMMO OR GUNS.

  • Fatboy Greg previous November 1, 2020, 10:29 am

    All this is doing is hurting consumers n yes they shut down American business’s and we start relying on cheap imports like you said they close American company’s and ammunition makers then we rely on cheaper products n they shut down import n then all Americans get screwed. Can’t buy guns, ammo or And still become so federal appeals court side to be separated and change the rules would do it different.BE AMERICAN BUY AMERICAN THE JOB YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!!!! THEY STOP ALLOWING IMLORTS THEN THE HUNTERS. WEEKEND SHOOTERS CANT GET NEEDED AMMO OR GUNS. THIS SITEVALLOWS OTHERS TO TAKE OVER YOUR COMMENTS. I JUST DELETED A THIRD OF MY POST THAT WAS TAKEN OVER BY SOMEONE WHICH IS BULLSHIT THIS IS MY COMMENTS N THOUGHTS

  • Where’s Waldo October 31, 2020, 1:05 pm

    Democratic congressman standing with labor (United mine workers). Thanks for trying to save some USA jobs.

  • Steven October 31, 2020, 11:55 am

    Cant totally blame Remington, as he reason the pull out , out of NY is the nys safe act passed by Comrade Cuomo. The NYS facility made primarily AR 15. After he basically outlawed most of the AR platform Remington decided to move to a gun friendly state in the south. Yes the quality of Remington products have been less than stellar, the move out of NYS is understandable, and I’m sure the employees saw the writing on the wall.

  • Paul Pham October 31, 2020, 12:57 am

    Then every employee gets an ar15, shotgun, and handgun from them.

  • Baja October 30, 2020, 7:18 pm

    Hey, come on man… as long as the management and banksters get their bonus $$$
    WTF, we got to have more laws and lawyers, corrupt courts and , and it will all be just FINE.

  • Zupglick October 30, 2020, 5:10 pm

    I don’t know if this had anything to do with Remington’s problems, but, I put my dad’s 870 from the ’60s next to the 870 I bought 10 years ago and you can see a world of difference in quality and craftsmanship.

  • Robert October 30, 2020, 2:52 pm

    I can understand workers being upset at the loss of their jobs, and their severance, but in a bankruptcy it’s left to the court to decide what obligations must be met, contract or not.

    • Maglide October 30, 2020, 9:55 pm

      I bet the execs got a good payout as they know the fold was coming. Sort of like a Kenneth Lay deal.

    • Jimmy Wallen October 31, 2020, 7:42 am

      With your line of thinking, the CEOs will walk off with millions in pay every time a bankruptcy is filed. This is going to be another Hostess Co. ordeal, wait and see.

  • Tug Twice October 30, 2020, 1:24 pm

    “GunsAmerica has not confirmed the veracity of this report, and the publication has not revealed its source.”

    Really – just another gossip spreader? Why not stick to the facts comrade, or take down your flag!

  • Vlad Tepes October 30, 2020, 12:44 pm

    With the Republicans in Control of the Courts system now the workers will get nothing from Remington as the lawsuit will simply be dismissed. Welcome to Capitalvania

    • Vlad Tepes October 30, 2020, 12:46 pm

      And I forgot to add. Socialism for the Corporations like Remington and ruthless Capitalism for the fired workers.

    • JR October 30, 2020, 2:06 pm

      This matter has nothing to do about politics, Republican nor Democrat. It is under the bankruptcy court’s jurisdiction which will determine restructure or liquidation. Creditors and employees usually suffer.

    • mglide October 30, 2020, 9:57 pm

      Yeah this never happened at all before Trump got in office………….It all started when Trump appointed Scalia back in ’86……….

      • Phil in TX October 8, 2021, 10:05 am

        Trump had nothing to do with Scalia’s appointment. That was Reagan.

        Phil in TX

  • Chris Mallory October 30, 2020, 11:02 am

    I just love how all these commentators are so quick to throw American workers under the bus. I guess they won’t be happy until the average American is living in 3rd World conditions.

  • Reno October 30, 2020, 10:43 am

    Remington since 1816, a casualty of the antigun multiBillionaires who are traitors

  • Tim October 30, 2020, 9:56 am

    Being fired instead of layed off might change what the employees are owed. If they are being represented by the united mine workers of America they will more than likely never get any of the benefits. If the plant reopened most of the employees will come back to work without union representation, and for less money even if this isn’t settled. Just the mindset of factory workers.

  • STEVE PEERY October 30, 2020, 9:54 am

    George Soros owned Remington under the name of The Freedom Group which is an investment firm. He also controlled Marlin, Dakota Arms, Tapco, DPMS, Bushmaster, New England Arms and several others. The goal of this group was to reap all of the profits quickly then chop it up and be rid of it. The fortune that was amassed was paid in dividends of course and large donations were given to the Democratic party. This is his normal way of operations and the Freedom Group was not the first to end up this way. Isn’t it ironic that The Democratic party who claims to have union support would screw their own backers and that all of the profits from guns, ammo and supplies were used against the sportsmen who bought the products? Soros also controls the Apollo Group which operates Constellium the largest aluminum rolling mill in the United States. Constellium is the largest supplier of aluminum plate to the aerospace industry as well as Boeing and Airbus. All of what I have written is available online to all you naysayers. Search it and you’ll see it.

    • Ed Sned October 30, 2020, 3:02 pm

      Soros has nothing to do with Freedom Group. Freedom was owned by the private equity group Cerberus, whose management is a bunch of former US Special Ops guys. They had planned to take Freedom Group public, but then nutcase Adam Lanza came along.

      • Rattlerjake November 1, 2020, 12:50 am

        BULLSHIIT! Ceberus is NOT a bunch of former Special Ops guys. Stephen Feinberg is the co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Cerberus Capital Management, that owns Freedom Group, which owns numerous US gun manufacturers. They are nothing but a group of wealthy elitists getting rich off of another form of weapons sales.

    • Kane October 31, 2020, 12:21 am

      very interesting and believable

    • Mark Hayward January 20, 2022, 7:41 pm

      Thanks for the Reminder of who owns the Freedom Group. It’s Nifty how the Name does the opposite of what it Implies. Sort of like the Patriot Act ect.

  • Dave October 30, 2020, 9:32 am

    Workers and management should look in the mirror and ask themselves ,what did I do to help Remington live or did my greed help it die .

  • Scott Kay October 30, 2020, 9:22 am

    Dollars to donuts those employees vote hard R. Then get f’d when R does what it does. :surprised face: f Trump loving worship. Eat a bag of dicks

    • Fal Phil October 30, 2020, 9:41 am

      Go home, Ted.

      We don’t want your butthurtness here.

    • Big Al 45 October 30, 2020, 9:59 am

      Your humanity is equaled only by your lack of intellect, you really must be a Class A dirtbag.

    • Joe Hilbourn October 30, 2020, 10:07 am

      Union workers in New York vote hard R, sure Jan, sure.

    • B rad October 30, 2020, 10:24 am

      TDS much, besides there probably aren’t any left after you got done. Troll

    • Jackson brown October 30, 2020, 11:51 am

      Well how big are those dicks in a basket.

    • gandolf the Whte October 30, 2020, 1:02 pm

      Scott Kay Obamacare is toast. Roe V Wade is toast. Sleepy Joe and Camel Hump Harris are toast. Choke on it.

    • Gunnery Sgt. October 30, 2020, 4:06 pm

      Seems like every time something goes wrong, the republicans are responsible. Well I’ve got news for you junior, the Dumbocrats have been trying to destroy second amendment rights for years and with the bankruptcy of Remington, they appear to be getting their way. I blame the dumbo’s for this. Had they left our constitutional rights alone, this would be a non issue, never happened. Sorry if these people lost their jobs but Dumbocrats are not job creators and don’t consider the fallout of their actions. They only care about their agenda no matter what and who gets hurt in the process. Brindisi is not going to help here, he only cares about spoons.

  • Gordon Cannoles October 30, 2020, 9:01 am

    The new corporate morality. There is none. I thought wage payments were the first priority in a bankruptcy.
    Sadly the book of American business ethics is becoming filled with blank pages, which used to be the insider joke about banking ethics.,

    • Fee October 31, 2020, 3:27 am

      In bankruptcy, the fed/state/local taxes get first priority, then it is mortgage balance and bondholders. Unfortunately by the time the first three groups get their share, not much is left for everyone else the company owes money to, So is the gov willing to give up their share of taxes owed to workers? No. Is banks going to forgive mortgage loans that the company may owe? No. Is pension funds, investment firms and bondholders going to give up their bond amount they are owed? No. So workers wages, vendors who did work for the company and waiting payment will not have much left after the company is liquidated and its property/equipment is sold off. Seen this happen before. Most bankruptcy judges make bondholders take some losses so something will be left for worker pensions. Other than that everyone on the bottom gets none or very little.

  • Loren Watts October 30, 2020, 8:53 am

    The workers built Remington? Do they get credit for running into bankruptcy. I’m sure blame is equally shared. Poor management and poor union work ethic (the company is in NY) were Working to cause the demise.

    • Tim October 30, 2020, 10:13 am

      I disagree. I’ve worked both union and nonunion. There is no difference between work ethic. Human nature is what it is, you are always going to have a large percentage of people that want to work hard and do a good job, some slugs, some suckasses ect. Besides unions are nothing like they were 40 years ago. The right to strike is mostly gone. The unions get the workers a collective bargaining agreement but after the companies pay off the union reps the agreement isn’t worth much. How well a company does has more to do with leadership.

  • Rob Sickler October 30, 2020, 8:42 am

    I suspect that the venture capitalists who bought Remington several years ago and pulled all cash out leaving them unable to continue business are also responsible for this. Remington has been raped twice by these wall street types in the last 10 year, who are also funding Biden so are getting a two’fer. Getting richer and putting a gun company out of business. More to come if Biden wins. Stay calm and pass the ammo. P.S. I live in Huntsville Alabama where Remington relocated to 5 years ago. They really never got back on their feet because of these corporate raiders. Lots of their employees moved here too. Luckily we are, and continue to be in a economic boom due to our auto, aerospace and military/space industry and govt. agencies that make their home here, so many should be able to find new jobs. Hell even the FBI is moving here but I’m not sure that’s a good thing any more? They should keep the brass in Washington where are the rest of the swamp critters live.

    • Stevie October 30, 2020, 11:30 am

      Are you saying that venture capitalists are Democrats supporting Biden? Don’t think so. These guys don’t care about anything but making more money no matter who or what it hurts. Vote Trump if you want more of the same.

      • Mark October 31, 2020, 5:52 am

        Actually if you read the comments, the company is owned by George Soros, which would make complete sense that he would bleed the company dry so they go bankrupt. What the idiot doesn’t realize is that in a free market economy, someone else will try to step up to meet supply with demand, And the only people who get screwed are the union workers who primarily vote democrat.

  • Hendrik Joseph Haan October 30, 2020, 8:38 am

    Notice how the UMWA isn’t stepping up. They siphoned off money all those years from the workers and won’t give back a dime. If they do get Remington to compensate the workers, guess who will take their cut again! Feel bad for the workers, but why not move to a better state and find a job in the same industry. It’s going gangbusters, especially the companies that bought up all the different sections of Remington. They can market their skills to those companies.

  • IPDAILY October 30, 2020, 8:38 am

    So the union feels that these people need to be paid. Maybe so. But I would guess it was their labor rates and other labor related issues over the years, that have exacerbated Remingtons financial demise. Not once but as i recall three times.Colt has faced the same issue with the Unions. What these Unions fail to realize is. American gun and rifle markets are under extreme competition from foreign imports. There is a finite line in the cost of production and amount garnered from sales. Especially when Turkey and the Philippines are dumping high quality firearms on the market at half the production cost of their American counter parts. It makes it extremely difficult for our unions to compete at 77,000 per year while the foreign gunmakers are paying in most cases under 25,000 per year. There is not that kind of profit in a firearm to support those kinds of salaries. The Unions are their own worst enemies.

    • Chris Mallory October 30, 2020, 10:58 am

      You are right, it has to be overpaid American workers that led Remington and Colt into their problems, not poorly designed firearms and gutting their product lines (Looking at you Colt). If you buy a foreign made firearm instead of American made, you are not much of an American.

      • Mark Hayward January 20, 2022, 8:18 pm

        Colt did have Quality issues and one of the Main Customers was the Military. They lost a Huge Military Contract.
        Remington made good quality guns at affordable prices 40 years ago .. Now they make poor quality Guns for High Prices.. Nothing that Reminton makes now Interests me.
        I must say the New Marlins that Ruger is building are getting great Reviews…

    • Tyrone Greene October 30, 2020, 11:32 am

      All true….

    • Paul Lech October 30, 2020, 12:56 pm

      It is not just the union. ALL American companies are to top heavy. To many CEO’s, secratries, & supervisors that do not produces any product but collect a 6 digit salary. “I went to college so I deserve a high salary”. Not true! Earn it like everyone else. Almost all those works know as much if not more then you, but because they don’t have a peice of paper from a college (that are run by gun grabers) the are not worth any to you.
      Come down off your high horses and get your hands dirty with the workers & be a real boss.

  • Scott paridee October 30, 2020, 8:26 am

    Remington went bankrupt so what are they suppose to do!!

    • Derr Gary October 30, 2020, 8:48 am

      For profit companies that go bankrupt can’t start printing money to satisfy unions? They’re not the Government?

      • Mark Hayward January 20, 2022, 8:22 pm

        Actually the Government does not Print Money even though the Constitution states that they can. Some very Corrupt Bankers bought off the Politicians and formed the Federal Reserve..
        The Federal Reserve is a few Private Bankers don’t let the name fool you.
        The Federal Reserve Prints money from thin air with nothing backing it.. Then they loan it to the Government and Banks who loan it to the Sheople for Interest.. The Federal Reserve needs to be abolished.

  • rj October 30, 2020, 8:24 am

    I thought that Remington was forced into bankruptcy by liberal courts. Wouldn’t that bankruptcy action nullify all employment contracts? Further if these employees had vacation pay coming, and they were aware of the financial instability of the company, why didn’t they take vacation time before the firings? Not choosing sides, just have these questions.

    • Mark Hayward January 20, 2022, 8:25 pm

      Oh ya the Flase Flag Event “Sandyhook” The supposed shooter used a Bushmaster made by Remington.. and they let Marxists sew Remington over that one.
      Can You imagine if people could sew auto manufactures for millions every time some idiot driving a car they manufactured killed some on in an accident?

  • Roland October 30, 2020, 8:24 am

    Colborn in Lake Forest Il. did the exact same thing just on a smaller scale and got away with it.

  • Kenneth L. Jones October 30, 2020, 8:07 am

    I’m sure mismanagement and the outrageous union wages helped those folks loose their jobs. The unions have and will continue to be the down fall of many companies. Why can’t people understand this. All they understand is money. Can’t they see what has happened to the automotive industries. The hourly wages are Ridiculous.

  • skipNclair October 30, 2020, 7:53 am

    This type of action is typical in all business, you work a plan to close the company by bankruptcy reopen with new ownership after 6 months, all well planed ahead, offer the old employees their positions back at a reduced rate and fewer benefits. Casino’s are notorious for this stun, this is also a good way to break unions. The sad part is the business owner or owners (not all) and the employees have no idea how bad they need each other and how important each one is. Without the investor you have no business and jobs, and without the employee you have no business, so sad there is no happy medium for both to meet in the middle and do what is right.

  • Alan Sullivan October 30, 2020, 6:39 am

    I would find it extremely difficult to pay benefits and health insurance premiums when a company has no assets, thanks to the idiots in Washington that has tried their hardiest to put all gun companies out of business for he past 25 years. Call Bozo O’Rouke at 800-GUN-CZAR

    • Nick October 30, 2020, 7:48 am

      I couldn’t agree more. Well said.

  • Paul Benoist October 30, 2020, 3:23 am

    As a long time proponent of Remington Arms goods’, I can only say that IF this is true of Ken D’Arcy using a “front man” to regain control is another reason HE should bear the brunt of this investigation. He should also face federal charges for misguiding the government on the bankruptsy agreement.
    I have been a “factory certified” (Armorer) gunsmith with Remington for many years. Thank God that I don’t work directly for Remington! This is just another reason why “BIG CORPORATIONS” should never get the size that they do. Regulations should be brought back to the forefront to stop the greed that causes a great historical company to fold and hurt the many loyal workers it’s had over the years.
    The “gun” industry is what this country was founded on and should always be a part of our culture. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY FOR THIS NATION ESPECIALLY IN TROUBLING TIMES WE ARE FACING NOW!!!!
    I have fought for this country and will continue to do so till’ the day I die!!!

    • Rouge1 October 30, 2020, 9:18 am

      Union loser? Remington should of left the north east when they had the chance lol.

    • Fal Phil October 30, 2020, 9:55 am

      Remington was never a “big” corporation. In it’s heyday, when it was running the Lake City plant, it was maybe about an $800 million company. That doesn’t even qualify them for the Fortune 1000.

    • Paul Lech October 30, 2020, 1:05 pm

      People .. Did we forget what happen in the civil war? The south could not get firearms & other supplies because the US navy shut down all the ports in the south. Close Amercian firearm manufactures so all arms are imported cheaper then BAMM close the import and say SUCKERS!!!!

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