Talks fail to end strike at Columbia Ford
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 6:59 AM PDT
By Andre Stepankowsky
Printable version
E-mail this articleA round of talks with the help of a federal mediator Monday morning led to no progress between Columbia Ford and two of its workers' unions, and a strike against the Longview dealership will continue, union representatives said.
"The company did not change their offer at all. We went there bargaining in good faith, but no bargaining took place," said Brian King, business representative for Teamsters Local 58.
No new talks or mediation sessions were planned as the strike, involving 30 mechanics and parts department workers, entered its fourth week Monday.
The two sides disagree on how much workers should contribute to their health care insurance.
Columbia Ford is proposing to cap its monthly contributions to health coverage at $650 per individual for family coverage, leaving Teamsters workers to each pay about $100 a month. Currently, the workers pay $34 a month. Machinists' health care costs would increase to $133 a month.
Though the immediate cost increase is of a concern to the union, workers are especially wary of how much more they would pay as health insurance costs continue to escalate, said Dan Morgan, assistant business representative for Machinists Local 1350, which represents about 20 of the striking workers.
Morgan said the workers seem united in their will to continue the strike.
"In my experience in being a full-time union rep, this is as strong a group as I have ever seen. They are all telling me the same thing. They are not willing to bend any farther. Three years ago we changed insurance plans to save the dealership money. ... (Workers) took a lesser plan and less benefits."
Columbia Ford officials did not immediately return calls for comment. Previously, company officials said it's necessary to control insurance costs to stay competitive, and their offer is fair compared with other shops in the area.
Workers are getting strike pay from union funds: Machinists get $150 a week. Teamsters get a weekly sum equal to 10 times their hourly pay ($150 a week for a worker earning $15 an hour).
King said Monday's mediation session took place at the Kelso Red Lion. While both sides spoke to the mediator, they never met face-to-face, King said.
"The company has to bargain in good faith. No bargaining took place. It was an ultimatum," King said.
Pickets continue at the dealership, which has advertised for replacement parts workers and mechanics. Both those departments remained shut down Monday, though the auto sales operations remained open.
Past Month's Most Commented Stories