After a contentious contract rejection of the two major ready mix companies, Cemex and Central Concrete last weekend, a tentative agreement has been reached by the parties after an all-day bargaining session held on Sunday, August 7, 2016. The Teamsters were prepared to begin picketing every one of the employers’ ready mix facilities beginning at midnight if the negotiations did not settle the areas of contention.
A strike in the Northern California Ready Mix industry would have shut down jobs from Santa Clara County into Solano County, including many San Francisco commercial and public jobs and various jobs in Silicon Valley. In all, it would have involved more than 600 Teamsters and affected most of the other building trades unions.
“Our members spoke loud and clear to us last week concerning the offer that was brought to them, and although a decent economic offer, it had some areas regarding working conditions that our members were not ready to accept,” said Rome Aloise, International Vice President and Northern California Teamsters Joint Council President.
“A long session with the employers was held Sunday in a last ditch attempt to prevent what would have been a devastating work stoppage for many people and construction sites. I am happy to report that we have reached a settlement that our bargaining committee has endorsed unanimously,” Aloise said.
The offer includes significant wage and benefit increases while holding fast on other terms and conditions that the employers attempted to modify. The offer will be put before the members on Sunday, August 14 at the Oakland Airport Hilton for ratification.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
See Ready Mix workers strike to affect some construction projects in Northern California
