Ameron deal
reachedA tentative agreement increases
wages by $4.20 per hour over
the five-year contract
After almost two months on strike, workers for the largest concrete provider in the islands might finally be going back to work next week.
Teamster Local 996 representatives for 144 Ameron Hawaii employees said they reached a tentative contract agreement last night and are going to recommend to their membership to vote to approve the agreement this weekend. If members do ratify the agreement, then Ameron officials hope to be back to work Monday.
"Feels great!" said Ameron Vice President of Operations George West yesterday. "Everybody is happy!"
Then as he left, he turned to reporters and said with a laugh, "No offense, but I hope I don't see any of you guys for a long time."
Ameron workers first walked off the job on Feb. 6, followed by workers from the state's second-largest concrete company, Hawaiian Cement, the next day. However, Hawaiian Cement and union officials managed to reach a tentative agreement on March 17 while Ameron talks sputtered and stalled.
When asked if the long strike had been worth it, Teamsters President Mel Kahele replied, "Absolutely worth every minute of it."
Kahele said the strike sent a message to Ameron officials to "be careful. We may take you on strike again."
The main sticking point for both Ameron and Hawaiian Cement had been the issue of employee co-payment of medical premiums. Ameron had asked that their employees pay 30 percent of their premiums, which meant a 10 percentage point increase. Hawaiian Cement had asked that employees pay 20 percent of their premiums where before they had paid none.
In the end the union agreed to both Ameron's and Hawaiian Cement's proposals to increase medical co-payments, but it came with wage increases for workers. Ameron agreed to a $4.20-an-hour wage increase package, with a dollar raise for the first two years, an 80-cent wage increase the third year and 70-cent wage increase the last two years.
In comparison, Hawaiian Cement workers had agreed to a $3.80-per-hour wage increase. Sources close to negotiations said the Teamsters representatives for Ameron workers had rejected the same package that Hawaiian Cement workers got and held out until more wages were on the table.
Another concession was a "medical bridge" for retirees. Ameron officials agreed to pay for four years of full medical coverage for retirees who left the company before the beginning of the fifth year of the contract. Those who retire in the fifth year will pay 30 percent of their medical coverage for four years.
Teamsters members are scheduled to vote on the tentative agreement from noon to 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Teamsters headquarters on Hart Street in Kalihi. The voting will be done by secret ballot, and results are expected to be released tomorrow evening.
BACK TO TOP |
Terms of
Among the highlights:
Ameron-Teamsters
tentative deal>> Five-year contract
>> No increase in co-payments for medical premiums for first two years of contract, so workers will continue to pay 20 percent of their premiums. In the third year of contract, medical co-pay increases to 25 percent, then to 30 percent in the fourth and fifth years.
>> Total wage increase of $4.20 an hour over five years: $1 increase the first year, $1 increase the second year, 80-cent wage increase the third year and 70 increase for the fourth and fifth years.
>> Ameron agrees to pay full medical benefits for four years to employees who retire before the beginning of the fifth year of the contract. For those who retire after the beginning of the fifth year, Ameron will still pay for medical for four years, but instead will pick up 70 percent of premium, with retiree paying the remaining 30 percent.
