The union that represents a large portion of Howard Industries employees didn’t officially inform federal officials of illegal immigrants working at the Laurel facility officials told the Leader-Call.

According to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency received a tip from a member of “the union” two years ago, before beginning an investigation against the Jones County business.

IBEW Local Union 1317 attorney Roger Doolittle and President Clarence Larkin each said the organization didn’t officially complain about illegal immigrants working, but can’t guarantee one of IBEW’s members didn’t tip off ICE. Doolittle said there are 2,700 members of the union who work for Howard Industries.

“A whole lot of them (employees) are union,” Doolittle said. “All of them have their First Amendment right to free speech.”

Doolittle also said many of the illegal immigrants who were detained by ICE August 25 were IBEW members. He said the union has filed an official grievance against Howard Industries for denying pay for time worked.

“We have filed a grievance on behalf of many employees who were arrested or detained for the wages that have not been paid to them,” Doolittle said.

He continued by saying federal labor laws require those employees to be paid. There was public support for those same workers who didn’t get paid just after the raid, too. Doolittle said the next step would be filing a labor board charge.

Since the raid on Howard Industries August 25, some people have expressed concerns to the Leader-Call that the company might move out of the country if there are too many penalties levied if investigations find laws were broken. When asked if the union has that concern, Doolittle said people can see the millions of dollars invested in buildings in Sandersville, Laurel, Ellisville, and Mendenhall as signs the company isn’t leaving Jones County.

“I don’t think that’s a legitimate concern,” Doolittle said. “I’ve seen nothing from corporate responses that they have any intentions to move any work. None of their actions would indicate to me they have any intentions of going anywhere.”

Doolittle also pointed out that the IBEW is working on contract negotiations with Howard Industries. He said the current contract expired August 4. That means, Doolittle and Larkin said, Howard Industries could legally lockout employees who are members of the union, but it also means union workers could strike with no notice.

Larkin said the contracts are valid three years at a time.

Doolittle would not comment on the possibility of a strike or about details of negotiations.