STAR-BULLETIN
Talks between Ameron Hawaii and the Teamsters union broke off last night after three hours of negotiation. Ameron employees picketed outside the gates of the cement plant in February.
Concrete talks end
with mixed resultsThe union calls the talks a "waste,"
but Ameron is optimistic
Talks between Ameron Hawaii and the union for the company's 144 striking concrete workers broke off last night, with officials from either side disagreeing on progress garnered during the three-hour negotiations.
"It was only a waste of time," said Teamsters Local 996 President Mel Kahele. "We're upset. ... Apparently, the company's made no change."
Ameron Vice President and chief negotiator George West, however, called the talks "encouraging."
"The suggestions were good suggestions," he said. "It's very positive."
Ameron officials struck down federal mediator Ken Kawamoto's latest proposal on medical insurance co-payments, according to a source who attended last night's meeting.
The company and union last met Tuesday for a three-hour session that ended positively, with Kahele calling those talks "great."
During the talks, Kawamoto pitched a suggestion on medical co-payments that both sides were expected to consider and decide on last night.
West was optimistic going into yesterday's negotiations at Teamsters headquarters in Kalihi, saying, "I'm glad we're here and we're talking."
The union and Ameron plan to meet again next week, West said. Kawamoto is expected to choose a time and place.
Officials from the company and union have said the biggest obstacle to a new contract centers on medical co-payments. In their expired contract, unionized Ameron workers had 20 percent of their medical insurance premiums deducted from their after-tax paychecks.
The company now wants employees to pay 30 percent of their premiums before taxes are subtracted from their checks.
The Teamsters also represent 67 concrete workers walking picket lines at Hawaiian Cement.
No new contract talks are scheduled in that strike, and the two sides last met Feb. 25.
But Hawaiian Cement Vice President Michael Coad said yesterday that his negotiating team "meets almost daily to brainstorm and discuss ideas."
"We continue to look for the proposal which will settle this work stoppage," he said. "We've already looked at several different options."
Hawaiian Cement is proposing that its concrete workers pay 20 percent of their medical insurance premiums, which the union strongly opposes. Under their old contract, the company's unionized workers paid none of the premiums.
Coad also said yesterday that "a lot of people" have come to talk to him about the stress the month-long strikes are putting on the state's economy.
"We have been meeting with groups and individuals," he said. "We welcome any suggestions or ideas to get this work stoppage concluded."
Coad, West and Teamsters officials also met with Gov. Linda Lingle, who has said the impact of the strikes is significant.
Analysts have said the strikes at the state's two largest concrete providers threaten to cripple the state's multibillion-dollar construction industry. Those within the building industry say they have already seen massive layoffs and expect more as the strikes drag on.
