Teamsters’ strike imminent at LV ready-mix companies

Grace Leong

Tuesday, May 30, 2000 | 10:51 a.m.

The Teamsters union plans strikes Thursday at two of Las Vegas' largest ready-mix cement companies after their union drivers rejected a third labor proposal for wage cuts over the weekend.

The proposal was rejected by a vote of 206 to 74 by CSR and Nevada Ready Mix union drivers at a meeting held Saturday with LaVonne Ritter, a mediator with the Federal Mediation Conciliation Service, said Jim Wilkerson, a Teamsters' spokesman.

He said two strike preparation meetings were scheduled today, but the union is waiting to see if any further proposals will be made before the current labor contract expires Wednesday.

At issue is an existing compensation and benefits package under the current contract that CSR and Nevada Ready Mix say is uncompetitive and has eroded their combined market share to about 40 percent from 70 percent six years ago.

"There were a lot of improvements (on the proposal) but the membership was still angry ... There was some good movement that should have been recognized and considered," Wilkerson said, declining to comment on why the proposal was rejected.

The companies' offer, described by a former Teamster organizer, Terry Newton, as "improved, but only minimally" proposes a wage rollback for senior drivers to $17.50 an hour instead of the earlier proposed $17 from the current $19.05 rate.

Newton added there were some improvements on seniority rules and workers can pay a $375 flat rate per month to receive the companies' health and welfare benefits package.

"But this is simply a Band-Aid," Newton said. "People just don't want a wage cut. These proposals would mean a $500 a month cut in terms of lost overtime and hourly wage concessions."

He said the union members also rejected the companies' proposal for an 18-month instead of the earlier proposed five-year agreement.

Ray Brown, the companies' spokesman, could not be immediately reached for comment. The ready mix companies have been training replacement drivers who will be hired if the contract talks fail or there is a strike.

"This is silently sending a message to Silver State (Republic Industries) that is not positive, regarding the unions' ability to handle their stalled talks," Newton said.

Some 500 union trash haulers for Republic Services of Southern Nevada rejected a new five-year contract offer from the garbage giant on May 21. Their current contract expires June 11.