Labor & Employment Law

Union Members Help Keep Daimler Plant Open?and More Bargaining News

By Belinda Boyce

Union members negotiate a contract that keeps an Oregon Daimler Trucks plant from closing, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,300 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

SETTLEMENTS
Multiple, Daimler Trucks North America: Good news in Portland, Ore., where a Daimler Trucks North America plant slated for closure will remain open after union members ratified new three-year contracts with the company. Most of the nearly 700 workers are members of Machinists (IAM) Local 1005, and others are represented by Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 1094, Teamsters Local 305 and SEIU Local 49.

USW, Vale Inco: Some 3,000 United Steelworkers (USW) members at Vale Inco in Canada approved a five-year contract, ending a yearlong strike, one of the longest in Canadian history.

ALPA, Jazz Air: Pilots at Canadian airline Jazz Air ratified a new six-year contract. The 1,500 pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots (ALPA).

USW, AK Steel: Members of USW Local 1865 in Ashland, Ky., ratified a three-year contract extension July 9 at AK Steel. The 750 workers covered by the contract will receive annual lump sum payments of $1,500, and the hourly wage will be increased by $1 in September of this year.

UWUA, DTE Energy: Members of Utility Workers (UWUA) Local 223 in Michigan ratified a new three-year contract with DTE Energy. The contract covers nearly 4,000 workers.

IUOE, Mid-American Regional Bargaining Association: Members of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150 in Chicago ratified a new three-year agreement last week.

ALPA, Spirit Airlines: Pilots at Spirit Airlines last week ratified a new five-year contract, which includes raises for the 500 members of ALPA. The contract came after four years of negotiations and a five-day strike last month.

USW, Alcan Aluminum: Members of USW Local 5668 ratified a two-year contract with Alcan Aluminum in Ravenswood, W.Va. The contract maintains current health care benefits and provides the 700 workers with annual $0.35/hour wage increases.

UFCW, Shaw?s: A four-month strike by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) warehouse workers at Shaw’s in New England ended with a settlement July 8. More than 300 workers fought to save their benefits and pay with the support of the AFL-CIO and Teamsters.

UFCW, Multiple Supermarkets: The BNA Daily Labor Report (subscription required) reported that members of UFCW Local 1500 in New York ratified 39-month contracts with King Kullen, Pathmark and Stop & Shop supermarkets. The 16,000 workers will receive weekly wage increases of between $60 and $110 over the term and will maintain their current health care co-pay of $20.

NEGOTIATIONS
UNITEHERE!, Hyatt: The same day thousands of hotel workers protested Hyatt hotels around the country, members of UNITEHERE! Local 483 in Monterey and Carmel, Calif., reached a tentative agreement with the company. No details of the deal covering 400 workers at two properties have been released.

MNA-NNU, North Adams Regional Hospital: In Massachusetts, North Adams MNA-NNU nurses voted to authorize a strike if necessary.  Management is demanding the union agree to a gag order provision that would not permit nurses to speak out about patient care, working conditions and staffing.

WORK STOPPAGES
IAM, Pratt & Whitney The IAM earlier this month won a significant court battle to save 1,000 Pratt & Whitney jobs in Connecticut. The long fight to save the jobs will soon move to the bargaining table. The IAM contract expires Dec. 5.

Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only.  As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on July 26, 2010 (boomark / email).