Concrete Hauler Talks Hit Brick Wall

Concrete hauler talks hit brick wall

By ARTHUR BRIDGEFORTH JR.

NFWS STAFF REPORTER

Concrete haulers at two Ann Arbor companies continue to picket over a contract dispute involving health care benefits.

The strikers, members of Teamsters Local 247 in Detroit, object to a management proposal that haulers must work at least two days a week for the employer to pay for their health insurance.

Under the old contract, which expired June 1, haulers only had to work one day for the employer to pay their health insurance.

Ben Mosqueda, recording secretary and business agent for Local 247, said the health care qualification had been the same for nine years prior to the new proposal. So far, he said, neither the union nor the employers are budging on the issue.

The local voted by a three-fourths majority to strike if the employers didn’t meet their health care demand. About 50 haulers who work at either Killins Concrete Co. or Crownover Concrete & Block Co. walked off the job last week. Members of the local contend the new qualification will leave many workers without coverage.

Mosqueda said the economy has slowed work in the industry. Summer is supposed to be the peak time for concrete haulers. Working a five-day week during June and July was commonplace two years ago. However, now many haulers who have less seniority are only working a couple days a week or not at all, Mosqueda said.

Meanwhile, the employers see the new qualification as a cost-cutting measure and one that provides more work for the haulers.

Both Mosqueda and Jerome agree that it doesn’t look as though the strike will end soon. The local and employer group have not meet since the strike began, Mosqueda said.