In a press release, Allied Waste Services of Evansville (Indiana), announced that they have locked out workers after the union employees rejected the latest contract offer.  The lockout began at 9pm CDT on Tuesday.  

The contract with Teamsters Local 215 originally expired on April 1 but was extended through April 26th.  With the latest contract offer rejected, the company made the decision to lockout the union.  Over the past two weeks, additional employees from within the greater company have been brought to Evansville to ensure continued service.

The strike impacts 79 workers in Evansville.  

At issue is a plan to replace the current pension plan with a 401(k) plan.  As part of the plan, Allied Waste pledged to make a contribution of $1.4 million into the 401(k) plan.  

Allied Waste Services is a division of Republic Services.  Republic just recently made labor peace with union workers in Alabama.