Building Materials Drivers Win Big Against Nine New York Employers
Labor Desk
April 14, 2006
Solidarity and Memories of a Previous Strike Averts Threats by New York City’s Largest Suppliers to Cut Benefits.
When nine of New York’s building supply distributors told workers they wanted to trim health benefits and freeze pension contributions, the Teamsters at Local 807 in New York stood up.
The companies—a combination of large national corporations and regional firms, including Kamco Supply, Strober, Florence Building Materials and J&S Supply—also wanted to take back days off and slash other benefits the Teamsters Union had fought for in the past for its members.
We struck five years ago,” said Robert Robinson, a 10-year member of Local 807. “It shut the companies down and really hurt them. They knew we were serious this time and that we would fight.”
So rather than face another debilitating strike, the companies not only backed down, but signed five- and six-year contracts that increased pay and benefits by more than 5.25 percent.
This was a terrific victory,” said driver Cono Forgione. “Our medical, dental, pension, everything is fully funded for at least through 2010.”
This is a textbook example of how solidarity and union representation can win against prevailing trends," said Bill Turis, Local 807 President.
Across the country, companies big and small are refusing to live up to past commitments on health insurance and retirement benefits,” Turis said. “Even companies in the construction industry, which are riding high on a booming housing market and a strong commercial sector are dumping their responsibilities on workers while rewarding chief executives and shareholders. But when workers stand together, decision makers realize that giving decent benefits pays off.”
Turis said the companies together represent the majority of the sheetrock and stud lumber distributors in the city of New York.
They came to the table wanting to take away our benefits, but left giving us about $1.60 in health and welfare benefits the first year, and about $1.50 for the remaining years," Turis said. "That just shows the power of standing together.”
When nine of New York’s building supply distributors told workers they wanted to trim health benefits and freeze pension contributions, the Teamsters at Local 807 in New York stood up.
The companies—a combination of large national corporations and regional firms, including Kamco Supply, Strober, Florence Building Materials and J&S Supply—also wanted to take back days off and slash other benefits the Teamsters Union had fought for in the past for its members.
We struck five years ago,” said Robert Robinson, a 10-year member of Local 807. “It shut the companies down and really hurt them. They knew we were serious this time and that we would fight.”
So rather than face another debilitating strike, the companies not only backed down, but signed five- and six-year contracts that increased pay and benefits by more than 5.25 percent.
This was a terrific victory,” said driver Cono Forgione. “Our medical, dental, pension, everything is fully funded for at least through 2010.”
This is a textbook example of how solidarity and union representation can win against prevailing trends," said Bill Turis, Local 807 President.
Across the country, companies big and small are refusing to live up to past commitments on health insurance and retirement benefits,” Turis said. “Even companies in the construction industry, which are riding high on a booming housing market and a strong commercial sector are dumping their responsibilities on workers while rewarding chief executives and shareholders. But when workers stand together, decision makers realize that giving decent benefits pays off.”
Turis said the companies together represent the majority of the sheetrock and stud lumber distributors in the city of New York.
They came to the table wanting to take away our benefits, but left giving us about $1.60 in health and welfare benefits the first year, and about $1.50 for the remaining years," Turis said. "That just shows the power of standing together.”
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