Former Workers Detail Hazardous Conditions, Anti-Union Threats at Chinese-Owned Ohio Plant

Former employees of a Chinese-owned glass manufacturing plant in Ohio have described a pattern of hazardous working conditions, safety failures, and anti-union tactics, according to testimony shared with Rep. Ro Khanna. The accounts emerged during a roundtable discussion convened by Khanna after the company, Fuyao Glass America, declined to comply with a congressional oversight inquiry.

Khanna, the ranking member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), had initially reached out to Fuyao Glass America and its parent company, Fuyao Glass Industry Group Co., Ltd., in July seeking documents related to their business and labor practices. The company, which gained national attention through the 2019 Netflix documentary "American Factory" for its acquisition of a former General Motors plant near Dayton, Ohio, has been previously cited for workplace safety violations and faced scrutiny over the 2018 death of a factory worker.

Despite Fuyao's refusal to engage substantively with his inquiries, Khanna met with former employees and union leaders in Dayton. Workers recounted issues including extreme heat on the factory floor, significant language barriers with Chinese supervisors, and alleged labor violations impacting both American and Chinese workers. Tiffany Moore, who worked at Fuyao for three years, described the heat as "unbearable" and noted the difficulty in communicating with management. She also detailed having to leave the company without notice to avoid retaliation, fearing that giving proper notice would lead to her termination.

Demetria Hodges, another former employee, shared an incident where she was allegedly struck by a forklift operated by a Chinese driver who she believed was unlicensed. Hodges stated that the company denied knowledge of the driver's identity despite the incident being captured on security cameras, hindering her pursuit of worker's compensation and a potential lawsuit.

Both Moore and Hodges claimed that Chinese workers were treated even more poorly than their American counterparts, often facing severe restrictions on communication and interaction. They also alleged that Chinese workers were frequently brought in and rotated out of the plant on temporary assignments, and that American workers were often overlooked for promotions in favor of these temporary staff.

Concerns about unionization were also a significant theme. Former employees reported that discussions about unions were suppressed, with threats of job loss and the potential withdrawal of health insurance benefits if unionization efforts proceeded. Darrell Jones, another former worker, recounted being told by a supervisor that the plant would close if a union was established. Hodges added that employees were offered a $2 per hour pay increase to vote against a union referendum.

Jones also spoke about the circumstances surrounding the 2018 death of Ricky Patterson, a 57-year-old worker who was fatally injured by a falling piece of glass. Jones described how workers were expected to continue their tasks that day, even after the incident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) later fined Fuyao $7,000 in a settlement related to the safety violation that contributed to Patterson's death.

Sam Sanders, president of the local IUE-CWA chapter, recalled a former employee expressing deep concern about safety, stating, "Expect deaths in that plant."

In his remarks, Khanna emphasized the need for stricter standards for foreign companies operating in the U.S. "We can welcome foreign investment in the United States of America... but they have to play by our rules," Khanna stated. He called for legislation to ensure companies adhere to American safety standards, labor neutrality, anti-discrimination laws, and basic communication practices, rather than treating workers as disposable.

Khanna also advocated for greater U.S. government investment in domestic manufacturing, suggesting the creation of an industrial development bank to support American factories and compete with imported goods. He expressed disappointment that Fuyao had not provided requested oversight information, stating that such data is crucial for addressing the issues faced by workers and protecting American standards and national security.

Fuyao Glass America and its parent company did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.