Regional cement strike threat evaporates

Union members voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new five-year contract with Nevada Cement, a major regional supplier of cement.

The existing contract with Laborers' Union Local 169 and Teamsters Local 533 expired at 12:01 a.m. on March 25, after having been extended several times in attempts to reach agreement.

The workers ratified the new contract with their first vote and decided on pension issues with a second ballot. Both passed by substantial margins.

The employees voted Monday night to reserve the right to allocate part of their wage increase, up to 25 cents per hour, toward pensions, beginning in the second year of the new agreement.

The Teamsters and Laborers unions together represent about 90 workers in the joint-bargaining unit. All are covered under the contract.

Nevada Cement has been signatory to the unions' joint collective-bargaining agreement since 1973. Laborers' Local 169 represents about 1,800 workers engaged in Northern Nevada skilled construction. Teamsters Local 533 represents about 2,200 employees in many fields, in addition to drivers throughout Northern Nevada and northeastern California.