Columbia Ford crews go on strike as talks stall
Tuesday, June 19, 2007 6:44 AM PDT
By Evan Caldwell
Printable version
E-mail this articleMembers of the Teamsters and Machinists unions walked off their job at about 9 a.m. Monday at Columbia Ford Chrysler Hyundai and set up pickets outside the Longview dealership.
The 31 union workers from parts and lube departments and mechanics at the Longview car dealership went on strike after a monthlong contract negotiation ended May 30 without a new deal, according to a news release from Teamsters Local 58.
The union members were seeking a better deal on rising health care costs.
"Our proposals have been reasonable but the company's offer amounts to less take-home pay for the workers who will be forced to nearly triple their monthly payments for health care," said Brian King, Teamsters Local 58 business agent. "Triple our health care costs, we just cant afford to do it."
Pat Sari, Columbia Ford Chrysler Hyundai president and general manager, said he's proposing he pay $650 per month per individual for their family health care coverage, leaving Teamsters workers to pay about $100 each. Currently, the workers pay $34 a month, he said.
Machinists' health care costs would increase to $133, Sari said.
"I think what we're doing is amazing," Sari said. "I believe they are at the top end of the wages."
The unions have been negotiating with the Columbia Ford since April 25. The Teamsters union voted for strike authorization after rejecting the company's final offer on May 30. The contract expired on May 31. The health care cost increases are scheduled to take effect on July 1, the union said.
"The workers knew that if they didn't take a stand now the company would never listen," the union said in a news release.
Sari said the business is open and selling cars but the service center will be closed "until we can get some replacements." However, he said getting rid of the union "is not even a consideration."
This is the first strike at Columbia Ford since the 1970s, Sari said.
"We are doing our best we can to keep communication open," he said.
King said the strikers will continue to picket Columbia Ford until a deal is reached.
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