New York City Cement Truck Drivers Strike Over Pay Issues

Tag : rose concrete

New York, NY (AHN) - Construction has stopped on many New Yorkbuildings because of a cement truck drivers' strike which hit thecity Tuesday.
Among the sites negatively affected by the unexpected job walk offby 400 drivers were the Freedom Tower, Second Avenue subway, theYankee Stadium, Citi Field and a number of high-rise apartments.
The industrial action is expected to last until at least Monday.John Quadrozzi, president of Quadrozzi Concrete, which claims to beNew York's largest concrete company, told the New York Times, "Thestrike was a surprise because it seemed that the negotiations weregoing well until the 11th hour and it fell apart."
The striking drivers said the main issues were salaries and workingconditions. According to Carolyn Daly, spokeswoman of theInternational Brotherhood of Teamster Local 282, the strikingdrivers' posture was positive, not angry.
The union walked off from the bargaining table at 12:30 a.m. onTuesday, 29 minutes after its contract expired. Bruce Levine, leadlawyer of the union, said in a statement the union regrets that itfailed to reach an agreement.
The hourly salary of the cement truck drivers under the expiredcontract was $33.11. But if their health insurance, pensioncontributions and other benefits were added, their hourly wage roseto $59.01. According to Joseph Greco Jr., treasurer of theAssociation of New York City Ready Mix Concrete Producers, thedrivers asked for pay increases of $5 an hour in the overallcompensation pack annually for the next three years.
As part of their bargaining, Gary La Barbera, president of Local282, reduced their demand to a hike of only $3.50 per hour. Grecosaid the employers did not have any opportunity to respond to theunion's $3.50 counter-offer because the workers walked out.